Review: 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel
Posted by FlagsNZ,
Exactly two years ago (on the last day of February 2024), I wrote an article highlighting the relationship that exists between the LEGO and Maersk family dynasties. My article looked at the 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E set and how it immortalised that relationship.
The LEGO Group is celebrating this next generation of Maersk Line's cutting-edge ship design with the release of the 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel set.
Maersk Line's latest generation of energy-efficient and environmentally responsible ships are the new A class III ships. These ships represent the world’s first large methanol-enabled container vessels and demonstrate that Maersk Line continues their commitment to pioneering low-emissions shipping solutions.
Read on as I review the latest set and look at the multi-generational relationship that has existed between the two giant Danish companies: The Lego Group and A.P. Møller – Maersk Line.
Summary
40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel, 1,516 pieces.
£139.99 / $149.99 / €149.99 | 9.2p, 9.9c, 9.9c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
This set continues the multi-generational relationship that has existed between the two giant Danish companies: The Lego Group and A.P. Møller – Maersk Line
- Very accurate scale model of a modern environmentally friendly container ship
- Good selection of printed parts
- Remarkably few stickers for a Maersk container ship
- Confusing microscale cabin
- The 12+ age recommendation seems odd
- This set has not been released under the Creator or Icons theme
- The historical links between Maersk and LEGO are not mentioned in the instructions
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Maersk Line, the Danish shipping company, is the second-largest global container shipping company (as of March 2025). Maersk Line has been at the forefront of energy efficiency initiatives and is leading the shipping industry to minimise the environmental impact of global shipping and supply chain management.
In 2013, Maersk Line took delivery of their first of thirty-one Triple E Class container ships. Three years later, The LEGO Group released the 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E set. The Triple E of that ship's class name stands for:
- Economy of scale,
- Energy efficiency, and
- Environmental impact improvement.
In 2024, Maersk Line took delivery of the first of their latest generation of ships: the A class III ship that was christened ANE MÆRSK.
The box
The box art for 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel is very similar to the box art used for 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E set. There is a slightly out of focus cityscape in the background as the ship is underway in a calm sea.
There is a prominent reference to Maersk and their famous seven-pointed star logo.
What is missing is a reference to any LEGO theme. 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E set was released under the banner of Creator Expert, which has evolved into the LEGO Icons theme.
The set is also pitched at builders 12 years or older. I expect this set will appeal to an older demographic.
Apart from the front of the box, all the other sides of the box are coloured in Maersk Blue (see below).
The image on the rear of the box shows the model sitting on display as seen from the starboard bow.
There are several smaller images that highlight some of the microscale details of this set. It shows that the set measures 60 cm long (23.6 inches).
Parts
There are 1516 parts included in 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel, which are divided into seventeen numbered bags. In contrast, the 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E set contains 1518 parts.
- Bags 1, 2 and 3 assemble the underside of the hull.
- Bag 4 assembles the ship's main engine.
- Bag 5 assembles topsides including the ship's two accommodation ladders.
- Bag 6 assembles the bow region.
- Bag 7 strengthens the underside of the hull and includes some fixtures on the ship's deck.
- Bags 8 and 9 assemble the ship's container lashing bridges.
- Bags 10, 12, 13, 15 and 16 assemble the shipping containers stowed on deck.
- Bag 11 assembles the aft mooring deck, funnel and aftermost stack of containers.
- Bag 14 assembles the ship's accommodation, navigation bridge and forecastle deck.
- Bag 17 assembles the display stand.
This link takes you to the parts inventory. At the time of writing this article, this inventory is only 78% complete: it is missing all the medium azur[e] elements as well as other elements.
Stickers
There is one sticker sheet included in this set. The largest black sticker is for the display stand. I will describe these stickers in more detail throughout the review.
It comes as a very pleasant surprise that this set includes so few stickers. In an article Which set contains the most stickers? written by CapnRex101 in 2021, it is revealed that two of LEGO's Maersk container ships are in the top four of that list: 1650 Maersk Line Container Ship (155 stickers) is in third place, while 10241 Maersk Triple E (133 stickers) comes in fourth place as the set with the most stickers (as of January 2021).
The vast bulk of the stickers for those two sets are applied to bricks to represent the shipping containers stowed as deck cargo. So it is surprising to see that the Maersk logos on the sides of the shipping containers in 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel are actually printed tiles – as you will see later.
Maersk Blue
The task of painting a ship never ends. The contract to supply cutting-edge marine paints to use on Maersk Line ships rests with Hempel Paints.
Hempel paint has been protecting ships for over 100 years. Hempel was established in 1915 by J.C. Hempel in Copenhagen, Denmark. Maersk was Hempel's first major customer, and they were responsible for formulating the trademark Maersk Blue.
LEGO has released three Maersk themed sets that used parts of the colour Pastel Blue (called Maersk Blue by Bricklink).
The two bricks in the image below are:
- Pastel Blue (Maersk Blue) on top, and
- Medium Azur[e] underneath.
40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel – as well as 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E from 2014 – are assembled with Medium Azur[e] elements.
Construction
Bags 1 to 6 – The hull
Bags 1, 2 and 3 assemble the underside of the hull. The dark red-coloured parts represent the antifouling paint of the hull. These parts are listed as New Dark Red which may be an updated colour specification for the existing Dark Red colour.
You can just catch sight of the ship's main engine in the windows on the port side of the hull.
The topside of the ship's hull represents the corporate Maersk Blue colour. These parts are all Medium Azur[e] colour.
Below is a close-up view of the bow assembly. This image shows that the ship does not have a protruding bulbous bow that modern, similar-sized vessels are built with. The curved section of the bow is held on by two clips.
The underwater stern section has been assembled with the studs upside down. This assembly is connected to the main part of the hull with the four Technic axles.
Bag 6 completes the bow region.
Bags 7 to 14 – The Upper Deck, Crew Accommodation, Wheelhouse and Shipping Containers
The image below shows the ship completed but empty of cargo.
The parts in Bags 8 and 9 assemble the ship's container lashing bridges.
The purpose of the lashing bridges are:
- Allow shipping containers to be stacked higher up on deck.
- Foundations for ship's container lashing systems,
- Provide services such as reefer container power supplies, and
- Provide safe crew and stevedore access to these higher containers.
The lashing bridges are made of Fence 1×4×2 elements in New Dark Red. This part has been seen in Dark Red in four sets.
The parts in Bag 7 strengthen the underside of the hull by placing Boat Studs underneath the New Dark Red plates. These Slide Shoe Round 2×2 elements allow the model to slide easily along a smooth floor or table and add play value.
These parts are frequently used to provide subtle strength to LEGO models.
There are two 2×2 recesses in the hull. This is where the display stand will eventually be attached.
The parts from Bag 11 assemble the aft mooring deck and funnel.
The All the way to Zero slogan, Maersk seven printed star (not visible) and funnel vents have been applied as stickers. There is a satellite dish on the funnel, too.
New Dark Red Prismatic Binoculars have been used to represent the Panama chocks (also called Panama fairleads) on the aft mooring deck.
In the cropped image below you can see ANE MÆRSK alongside Columbo International Container Terminal. The aft mooring ropes are passing through the Panama fairleads and down onto the bollards on the wharf.
At some stage, these Panama fairleads have been painted Maersk Blue – but not in the image below.
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Image Source: Marine Traffic
Shipping containers
The parts contained in Bags 10, 12, 13, 15 and 16 assemble the shipping containers stowed on deck. The bays of shipping containers are built in three different styled sections. There is a narrower bay at the stern which is assembled using parts from Bag 11.
The container logos appear on three different printed tiles. These three styles are:
- One 2×4 printed tile, and
- Two versions of 2×6 printed tiles.
There is a mix of three different coloured containers printed on these tiles.
- The blue and grey as standard forty-foot general shipping containers, and
- White forty-foot reefer containers.
For Maersk, having their distinctive blue colour on shipping containers is a recent change after having had grey containers for over fifty years.
These container modules for this model sit between the lashing bridges, as they would do in the real ship.
As you can see in the image in the previous section, container stacks aboard real ships are made up of many different coloured containers and many different brands of shipping companies. It is unlikely that a container ship would carry containers that are exclusively from one parent company.
That being said, this set is a display model, and it is appropriate that a uniform coverage of Maersk branded containers is displayed.
Container location terminology
The ship, in real life, is 350 m long (1,150 ft). This LEGO model measures 60 cm (23.6 inches). The model is therefore built at a scale of about 1:600 (1:583).
At this scale, one LEGO stud equals 4.8 m or 15.7 feet. A standard shipping container is either 20 feet (6.1 m) or 40 feet (12.2 m). So this model has been built where a 40-foot shipping container is close to two studs long. The one-stud wide lashing bridge will account for any discrepancy in this artistic licence.
The 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E model is built at a similar scale (1:613).
Shipping containers are located precisely aboard dedicated container ships with a six-digit location identifier.
- The first two digits represent the container bay,
- The third and fourth digits indicate a container's row, and
- The last two digits indicate the container's tier.
Container Bays
The Container Bay is the most important feature of the container's location. Each container Bay is a cross-section of the container stow starting with Bay 01 forward and then numbered consecutively aft.
Twenty-foot container bays have odd numbers and forty-foot container bays have the even number between the two twenty-foot container bays that the forty-foot container occupies. So, for example, Bays 01 and 03 would be the first two twenty-foot container bays and Bay 02 would be the location of any forty-foot container that straddled Bays 01 and 03.
Forty-foot bays are not numbered consecutively due to the lashing bridges: you cannot load a forty-foot container in Bay 04 as there will be a lashing bridge between Bays 03 and 05. In this example, Bay 04 would not exist.
Container bays in ANE MÆRSK
ANE MÆRSK has twenty-two forty-foot container bays numbered starting at Bay 02, and then numbered in steps of four through to Bay 86 at the stern.
Image source: Baird Maritime - Maersk
40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel also has twenty-two bays of LEGO containers, just like the real ship.
This aspect of the model is more realistic than the 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E set, which used 2×4 bricks to represent the shipping containers in that model.
Container Rows (across each Bay)
Container rows are numbered 00 on the centreline and then 01, 03, 05, etc. to starboard, and 02, 04, 06, etc. to port. If there is an even number of rows, then Row 00 does not exist.
Container Tiers (height in the cargo hold or above the deck)
Tiers are numbered in steps of two, starting with 02 at the lowest point in the cargo hold and starting at 82 if stowed outside on the hatch cover.
This link takes you to a webpage on the basics of container stowage planning should you wish to learn more about this subject!
Hyundai-MAN B&W 8G95ME-C10.5-LGIM-EGRTC engine
Below is a close-up view of the ship's eight-cylinder main engine. Manufactured under licence by Hyundai Heavy Industries, these MAN B&W engines are capable of running on dual fuel – hence the name of this LEGO set.
This microscale engine is assembled with the parts in Bag 4 and utilises Sand Green parts.
This three and a half minute animation explains how these types of engines function.
This two-minute video also outlines the main features of these dual-fuel engines.
Engine Facts:
- Main engine: HYUNDAI-MAN B&W 8G95ME-C10.5-LGIM-EGRTC, 8 cylinders, 44,187 kW
- Shaft generator: Wartsila shaft generator of 4.0 MW.
- Methanol fuel capacity: 16,000 m³ in two tanks beside each other, located forward of the engine room
- The vessel can sail up to 23,000 nautical miles on methanol, corresponding to 41,400 km (25,724 statute miles) when fully bunkered.
- The engine is a Dual Fuel type, meaning it can run on methanol as well as traditional marine fuels. The same applies to the auxiliary engines.
Source: Ane Maersk, the world’s first large green methanol-enabled vessel
This link to a Reddit post has a half-minute walk around the engine while running. It has an almost hypnotic beat as the engine is running.
The engine is visible in the ship when the container modules have been removed.
There is a window on the port side of the hull to enable you to look into the engine room.
If the containers are in place, you will need a torch to see the engine, though!
Crew accommodation
The image below has been taken while assembling the ship's accommodation block with the parts contained in Bag 14.
Hidden inside the accommodation block is a small crew cabin and a recreational room on two deck levels. The crew cabin has a small bunk and a head (toilet). One level above the crew cabin is a small recreation space that includes a cup and an egg tile on the table. Off to the side is a compass printed tile.
I find these hidden features somewhat confusing. They are not particularly good at depicting the spaces they try to represent.
Accommodation Ladder
On each side of the hull is an accommodation ladder that can be pulled out of the hull and hinged downwards thanks to a ball joint.
Technically, gangway refers to the gap in the side of a ship where crew can board, although the use of the term gangway in lieu of an accommodation ladder is widespread (and incorrect).
The image below shows the starboard accommodation ladder deployed in ANE MÆRSK.
Keen-eyed observers will note that just to the left of the accommodation ladder's lower platform there is a thin vertical white and red stripe. This marks the maximum length of a pilot transfer ladder (9 m, 30 feet). You can also see the pilot ladder rigged flat against the ship's side.
I will most likely MOC my 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel and include white over red 1×1 plates on each side of the model just at the waterline – as shown in this image.
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Image source: Marine Traffic
Ship's lifeboats
There is a Bright Orange 1×1×2/3, Outside Bow on each side of the ship that represents the ship's two enclosed lifeboats.
The Maersk name and their white seven-pointed star logo on the ship's hull are printed Medium Azur[e] 1×4×2 Wall Elements.
This link takes you to the story of the Maersk seven pointed star.
The little star on the funnel is a reminder of the evening I prayed for you so dejectedly and anxiously, asking for the sign that I might see a star in the grey, overcast sky, a reminder that the Lord hears our prayers.
Peter Mærsk Møller, October 6, 1886
World Map
In the internal crew recreation room is a world map which is a sticker applied to a white 1×4×2 Wall Element.
I am surprised that there are no shipping routes indicated on this map.
ANE MÆRSK travels from Europe to Asia and back again on a route known as the A7 String.
It has to be noted that, possibly due to the political situation in the eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea and Gulf of Aiden, this route avoids transiting the Suez Canal.
ANE MÆRSK schedule can be checked here.
You can always check Marine Traffic for a live update on ANE MÆRSK's position, course and speed.
The completed model
Crew Accommodation, Wheelhouse
Below is a close-up image of the crew accommodation and wheelhouse.
The windows and the slogan All the way to Zero appearing on the front of the accommodation block is a printed element.
The bridge windows are applied as stickers. The light blue bridge windows are located near the bridge wings as these areas have much more natural light.
Above the wheelhouse can be seen some navigation and communication equipment.
- There are the port and starboard navigation sidelights,
- A Miinifigure Skate has been used as a radar,
- There is a radio aerial, and
- Two satellite dishes.
The open forecastle mooring deck looks quite barren without featuring any other detailing.
There has been a missed opportunity to provide some mooring winches on the forecastle mooring deck – as were included in the 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E set.
Image source: Facebook - JW Shipping Photography
The location of the port and starboard navigation sidelights in ANE MÆRSK are located further down the accommodation block – as can be seen in the image below (the small green starboard sidelight).
In fact, one of the great features (for me) of the 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E set was that this model included the full set of navigation lights. The 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel model is missing the masthead lights and a stern light.
Image source: Facebook - JW Shipping Photography
The model displayed on its stand
Here is the completed model on display. Starboard side.
Port side.
In this image below you can see the stickers that have been applied to the funnel and stern.
All ships have a nationality and must be registered in a country. The name and port of registry must be displayed on the stern.
The sticker on the stern identifies this ship as ANE MÆRSK and the port of registry is KØBENHAVN (Danish for Copenhagen).
Therefore, the 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel is a scale display model of the ANE MÆRSK and the ship flies the Danish flag.
The ship's name must be displayed on each bow. The Maersk crest can also be seen on the bow.
New ships are issued with a carving and marking note from the certifying agency that will enable the ship's name, port of registry, official number and other statutory marks to be carved (these days it is welded) on the hull.
Display Stand
Below is the display stand that supports this model. As Huw comments, "When the model sits on the stand it is very sturdy!"
The display stand for the 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E set is much more attractive, however. That display stand, whilst not as sturdy as the one for 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel, was finished off with tiles which hide all the studs.
Ship's Particulars
A selection of ship's particulars have been included in the display stand plaque. This is a sticker applied to a black Plate 6x12 W 22 Knobs.
An analysis of these particulars:
ANE MÆRSK: The name of the vessel. The Æ is called a dipthong. In Danish and Norwegian, æ is a separate letter of the alphabet.
Owner: A.P. Moller - Mærsk A/S The company that owns the ship.
Delivered: 2024. The ship was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries and delivered 26 January 2024.
Length o.a: Length Over All 350 m. LOA is the maximum length of the ship. The ship is 350.59 m long (1,150 ft 3 in).
Breadth mld: Breadth Moulded. The moulded breadth of the ship is measured from inside the shell plating. 53.50 m (175 ft 6 in).
Depth mld: Depth Moulded. The moulded depth of the ship is measured from the upper surface of the keel plates to the upper edge of the deck line – the line marking the uppermost continuous deck. 33.2 m (108 ft and 11 in).
Draft max: The draught of the ship (how deep the ship is in the water) measured to the upper edge of the Summer Load Line. 18 m (59 ft 1 in).
Author's note: Draught is the correct word to use here, but draft is widely (but incorrectly) used. Draught horse, draught beer, ship's draught! Draft is wind blowing under a door or similar.
Max Deadweight: Deadweight is the weight of items that can be loaded into the ship when it is loaded to the Summer Load Line. Deadweight comprises cargo, fuel, ballast, lube oils, crew and stores. 190,000 tonnes (209439 US tons).
Author's note: many sources list the deadweight of ANE MÆRSK as 174,009 metric tonnes (191812 US tons) so the value listed above may be 190,000 US tons.
Capacity: 16,592 TEU. TEU stands for Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit. A theoretical amount of twenty-foot containers that this ship could carry in ideal loading conditions.
Fun fact: If you line up 16,592 TEU containers, the line would be 100.5 km long (62.4 miles) – corresponding to 959 football pitches,
Source: Maersk - Vessel facts sheet.
Engine: MAN B&W 8G95ME-C10.5-LGIM-EGRTC.
- 8: Number of cylinders.
- G: "Green" engine, or more specifically, the "G" bore series designed for high-efficiency propellors on large ships.
- 95: Cylinder bore diameter in centimetres (950 mm - 37.4 inch).
- ME: Electronically controlled two-stroke engine (MAN Energy Solutions' signature electronic fuel injection technology).
- C: Compact design.
- 10.5: Generation 10.5 of the engine design.
- LGIM: Liquid Gas Injection Methanol – this indicates the engine can run on green methanol, as well as conventional marine fuels (dual-fuel).
- EGRTC stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation with Turbocharger Cut-out. It is a specific type of emission-reduction technology used on MAN B&W two-stroke marine diesel engines to comply with stringent IMO Tier III NO? regulations.
Source: Maritime shipping's green methanol powerhouse
Output: 44,187 kW (59,256 BHP) The power output of the main engine as measured in kilowatts or brake horsepower.
Speed: 21 knots. 21 nautical miles per hour. 39 km/h (24 mph).
Ship's Particulars not included on the plaque
Lightship: 47,700 tonnes (52,580 US tons). The weight of the empty ship – empty of everything.
Summer displacement: 221,709 tonnes (244,392 US tons) if using the 174,009 metric tonnes as deadweight. The weight of the ship when fully laden with cargo, fuel, stores etc. The maximum weight of the ship when loaded to the Summer Load Line.
Gross tonnage: 172,093 tonnes. A measure of the internal volume of the ship.
All the way to Zero
Maersk have developed their primary environmental goal – All the way to Zero.
This slogan appears in multiple locations on their ships, and it appears in four locations on 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel.
As the Maersk policy states:
Reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 demands more than ambition – it requires action.
ANE MÆRSK
Take a three-minute tour ANE MÆRSK – the largest dual-fuel container vessel sailing on methanol.
This seven-minute video shows ANE MÆRSK arriving at the Port of Felixstowe. Followed by her departure for Germany at 2am in the morning.
The vessel is named after Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla (often referred to as Ane Uggla), the Chair of the A.P. Moller Foundation and A.P. Moller Holding.
Ane’s eldest granddaughter, Astrid Uggla, served as godmother and christened the vessel by breaking a champagne bottle over the bow.
Image source: Maersk names first vessel of its large methanol-enabled fleet “Ane Maersk”
LEGO and the Maersk connection
In an article I wrote exactly two years ago, Throwback Thursday - 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E, I comment on the personal relationship that has existed between the two Danish families that still control The LEGO Group and A.P. Moller - Maersk Group.
This relationship is mentioned on page 3 of the instructions to 10219: Maersk Train:
The relationship between The LEGO Group and A.P. Moller - Maersk Group was founded on a personal relationship between Godtfred Kirk Christiansen [the son of the founder of The LEGO Group] and Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller [the son of the founder of A.P. Moller - Maersk Group].
The reference then mentions that the first Maersk promotional set as being the 1650 Maersk Line Container Ship released in 1974.
In an article about the early years of LEGO history written by Gary Istok he reveals that the first Maersk ship by The LEGO Group was produced many years earlier, and was only available to continental European retailers, as a glued display model in 1959-60. This was the 0751 Regina Maersk LEGO model, named after the very first Maersk Blue hulled ship of that name launched in 1955 from the Odense Denmark shipyards.
Regina is Latin for Queen, so this ship's name when translated means Maersk Queen.
Image source: Facebook - 70 years of Maersk blue
The Mærsk family
The photo shows two generations of the Mærsk family: A. P. Moller is on the left with Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller standing in front of him.
I incorrectly identified the small girl on the right as Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, The girl is, in fact, A.P Moller's daughter, Jane Mærsk Schaldemose (born Mc-Kinney Møller) who was three or four years old when this photo was taken. Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller is seventeen years old in this image.
(maersk.com/about/our-history/the-founding-family)
Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller is standing in front of a portrait of his father, A.P Moller.
Image source: Engagement over time – the family in the Foundations
The Christiansen family
The photo shows three generations of the Christiansen family: Ole Kirk Christiansen (born Ole Kirk Kristiansen) stands behind Godtfred Kirk Christiansen. Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is in the front.
Image source: lego.com/cdn/product-assets/product.bi.core.pdf/4591606.pdf
Kristiansen or Christiansen?
On Ole Kirk Kristiansen’s birth certificate, his surname is spelt with a K. In Ole Kirk Kristiansen’s day, however, it was common practice for the surname Kristiansen to be spelt with either Ch or K – and Ole Kirk Kristiansen did indeed use both versions, although mostly the Ch style. Both Godtfred Kirk Christiansen and his son, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen – like Ole Kirk Kristiansen before them – were baptised Kristiansen, and Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen has always used this spelling (lego.com/en-us/history/articles/a-kristiansen-or-christiansen).
What's in a name?
In the instruction book for 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel is a page titled What's in a name?
Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller
A.P. Møller founded A.P. Møller - Maersk in 1904. His son, Arnold Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller (known as Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller) was a lifelong friend of Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, the son of the founder of LEGO, Ole Kirk Christiansen.
The image below shows father and son: Arnold Peter Møller and Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller.
Image source: Møller Family
This is an image of 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E. The first ship of the Triple E class was named after Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller. The ship is registered at the port of Hellerup where Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller lived.
Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla (Ane Uggla)
Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller had three children: Leise (born 1941), Kirsten, Mrs Olufsen (born 1944), and Ane, Mrs Uggla (born 1948).
Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla is often referred to as Ane Uggla. Since 2012 she has chaired the A.P. Møller Foundation, which owns the controlling stake in the Maersk Group when she took over this role from her father upon him stepping down.
Ane Uggla with her father, shipowner Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller on 5 May 1993.
Photo: Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix
Image source: Linkedin. Photo by Steen Brogaard
The image below shows Ane Uggla, with family portraits in the background.
We are really respected globally – and I am proud of that. This is what the family, together with our leaders and employees, have built. And it is what we must not destroy: Our Name.
Source: Maersk – The founding family
As the citation in the instruction book for 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel states, Ane Uggla is the granddaughter of A.P. Møller, the founder of the Maersk Group.
Given that her father was a lifelong friend of Ole Kirk Christiansen, it is reasonable to suspect that she must have a friendly acquaintance with Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, the grandson of the founder of The LEGO Group.
Ane Uggla (nee Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller), who lives in Stockholm but spends a few days a week in Copenhagen, has been immortalised in the 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel set.
Disappointingly, there is nothing in the instruction book that hints at any link between these two families. Nor is there any reference to any previous Maersk themed LEGO set.
As I have indicated in this article, LEGO and Maersk have enjoyed a longstanding multigenerational relationship and I am surprised that there is no mention of this in the instruction book.
Verdict
Having worked in the shipping industry all my working life, and having served in two container ships chartered to Maersk Line and operating in the busy waters around Asia, I will be purchasing this set on day one.
I will most likely make a few subtle changes to the model, particularly adding some additional navigation lights and adjusting the position of the red and green sidelights.
Below is an image of my 10241 Maersk Line Triple-E set on a large canvas sheet that has been painted to look like a nautical chart.
As you can see, I have made the shipping containers look more real-world. I will likely modify the 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel in a similar way.
Final words
This article has been a collaboration between myself and Huw. Huw has built the model in the UK and I have written the text from the other side of the globe.
Here are Huw's comments on the build:
Overall, it is an enjoyable and relatively quick build because, other than the bridge section, there are not many tiny details requiring small pieces that take time to deal with. Building the container stacks is somewhat repetitive, but not arduous, but thank goodness they are printed!
For me, it has been really enjoyable to have had the opportunity to research this LEGO set, the real ship that it represents and the dynastic connection between these two powerful Danish families.
I have not looked too deep into the environmental aspect claimed by Maersk or their All the way to Zero slogan. Nor have I looked at the complete story about the use of green methanol because I am sure there is more to find out about this topic.
On another note – in June 2009, during an interview with The Daily Telegraph before stepping down as First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band warned that politicians were failing to recognise the importance of maritime power and were overstretching the Royal Navy. He coined the phrase, Sea Blindness.
British author and journalist, Rose George has covered this topic in an informative Ted Talk - Inside the secret shipping industry.
Ninety Percent of Everything you own arrived in port carried in a ship, just like 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel, also known as ANE MÆRSK.
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47 comments on this article
Absolutely superb review.
I can’t imagine ever wanting to either build or display this, especially when there are so many better offerings…
Thank you for this very informative, detailed review. In my opinion, the lack of an Icons or Creator logo on the box isn't a problem. I care more about what's in the box than what's on it, and what's in the box is a fine ship model that I hope to get someday.
I don't really get why a playset for 12+ needs a display stand. Even if this was a set for adults, the stand doesn't seem to add much.
What a treat to read! As someone with little interest in this set and only a minor interest in the Maersk sets that have come before it, its always lovely to read a truly passionate review that makes you take notice of every little detail. Ive learnt quite a bit about how these ships work now, and it's clear you have a real passion thanks to your life experience. It's an incredible talent to make a review this good and interesting when the subject of it may not personally be very interesting. Ive really enjoyed it!
Thank you, I was waiting for this review from the set's first announcement! It's always a treat to get all this nautical detail for ship sets.
What a magnificent, wonderful article! Nice thorough research done!
IMHO, it's actually a pro that this set is not struck with a dull, soulless, boring black 18+ box had it been labelled an Icon set. I miss the colourful illustrations and boxes that make the sets more appealing to the target fans, showcasing each model's unique charm, characteristics and playfulness.
The IP's logo is as big as Lego's logo in a prominent space. Idea's number tag in the lower right is themed for every set as a collectable design element. Aesthetically pleasant and dedicatedly designed themed UI elements, even for one-off IP sets like Horizon, old Stranger Things Upside Down house, and old Idea sets, etc, instead of a lazy "minimalistic" template that does not fit all. Delicately designed boxes are worthy of being cherished or displayed by themselves. I am old, I guess. :P
Goodness. This brilliant review is more thorough and incisive than my Master's dissertation. Bravo!
@FlagsNZ said:
"New Dark Red Mini Roller Skates have been used to represent the Panama chocks (also called Panama fairleads) on the aft mooring deck."
Not true, it's binoculars that are used illegally once again!
Can't believe LEGO let this pass in yet another official set - when binoculars are placed on a stud they become taller than a plate, which means parts put on top can't be pushed down all the way without significant force. Really bad.
You made this extremely interesting. Thank you!
The box doesn’t seem to mention whether it floats or not?
That's ugly and looks like an incredibly repetitive build. I'm sure it must float someone's boat but I'm afraid it doesn't mine.
As @Goujon above has voiced better than I could do the quality of this article, I will just add this: I'm wondering why Lego does not contract people like you for sets like this (many other recent examples could be prefaced by specialists of other industries). You would not have to be on the payroll, there are freelancers in pretty much every fields of life. Lego can also not deny the existence of such people - I'm sure plenty of Lego employees read these pages from time to time if not regularly. The passion is clear, the text proves it!
(In fact, when Lego releases a boat, I'm now looking forward for your review/analysis)
Needs more Maersk Blue.
@FlagsNZ:
New-Dark-Red is the current Dark-Red, which got replaced several years ago with minimal fanfare. I don’t even know when the switch happened, unlike the 2004 color changes. Bricklink does not distinguish between the two, which helped it fly under the radar. Pretty sure it was after 2004, though.
@MrClassic said:
" @FlagsNZ said:
"New Dark Red Mini Roller Skates have been used to represent the Panama chocks (also called Panama fairleads) on the aft mooring deck."
Not true, it's binoculars that are used illegally once again!
Can't believe LEGO let this pass in yet another official set - when binoculars are placed on a stud they become taller than a plate, which means parts put on top can't be pushed down all the way without significant force. Really bad.
"
Thanks for the correction. I have updated the article with this correct information.
@gunther_schnitzel - The box doesn’t seem to mention whether it floats or not?
Yes, it does. In small writing on the bottom right corner on the front of the box.
Another fantastic, detailed review by @FlagsNZ where I learned a lot. Thanks!
I just love these FlagsNZ reviews of ships. I have no interest in these models but I love the extra info poured into these reviews.
So I'm excited for new ship sets just to read these excellent history lessons (and set reviews I suppose)
I can't help but feel like some exclusive Maersk figure was supposed to be included in this set, but for some reason (budget?) they cancelled that at the last minute, hence the minifig scale cabin
It should be "brake horsepower", not "break horsepower".
Thanks for the review - clearly a lot of effort has gone into it! I'm probably not going to buy this one, but I do like it..
@560heliport said:
"It should be "brake horsepower", not "break horsepower"."
Thanks. Fixed.
Fantastic review!
I absolutely LOVE all the links!
What a fantastic Review and wonderful Read. I so much enjoyed this and could feel the Passion in every Aspect. Thank you so much !
I am not at all interested in buying the set, but I was eagerly awaiting this review since the day the set was announced, and it was well worth the wait! Fascinating read and really makes me interested to know more about the shipping industry!
@Belboz said:
"Absolutely superb review. "
This was my thought too. An incredible amount of passion & research went into this review & certainly gave me a new appreciation for the subject matter.
Top notch review! Love the history behind it as well as the review itself. I laughed initially at the age rating being a con, but then it hit me “why in the world is the 12+?!” The age rating makes zero sense. I was intrigued when this was revealed because it’s an interesting subject matter, not to mention I missed the last one. I do look for this to be a sneaky good potential investment. It’s not exactly cheap, but I don’t think it’s going to be uber-popular right now. Yet… it’s only available for 9 months, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. I don’t expect discounts until the very end. Couple that with the pricing for the last one and this could double in just a few years.
If you completely unloaded the real ship, would the engines be visible from above?
@Banners said:
"Goodness. This brilliant review is more thorough and incisive than my Master's dissertation. Bravo!"
That's @FlagsNZ for you!
@Crux isaid:"Needs more Maersk Blue."
On that, we agree. I don't know where they'd put it but some trans-neon green and/or trans-neon orange would be nice, too.
@Sandinista said:"I can't help but feel like some exclusive Maersk figure was supposed to be included in this set, but for some reason (budget?) they cancelled that at the last minute, hence the minifig scale cabin"
The scale there is confusing. The table would seem to be minifig-scale, but what's below it is smaller-scale than that.
It’s churlish of me to nitpick such a detailed and well researched review, but with regards to ‘draft’ vs ‘draught’, that’s mostly a US vs UK English difference. In US English, ‘draft’ is used for everything, so possibly Mærsk/LEGO is just using US spelling. In UK English, it depends on the meaning. Contrary to the review, ‘draft’ isn’t an air current in UK English; that’s also ‘draught’.
Impressive... Review. Article. History. Excellent, thanks for sharing all this passion and knowledge.
@Zander said:
"It’s churlish of me to nitpick such a detailed and well researched review, but with regards to ‘draft’ vs ‘draught’, that’s mostly a US vs UK English difference. In US English, ‘draft’ is used for everything, so possibly Mærsk/LEGO is just using US spelling. In UK English, it depends on the meaning. Contrary to the review, ‘draft’ isn’t an air current in UK English; that’s also ‘draught’."
I wondered about that!
@Huw - how was the color consistency? Also, do we know why LEGO doesn’t use more transparent stickers since they never seem to match?
@Wallace_Brick_Designs said:
"I laughed initially at the age rating being a con, but then it hit me “why in the world is the 12+?!” The age rating makes zero sense."
My guess is that this was an Easter egg as LEGO set this as 12+ because it made all the way to zero sense. :o)
@TheOtherMike said:
"If you completely unloaded the real ship, would the engines be visible from above?"
I too was wondering this.
@FlagsNZ - thank you again for a fascinating read. I think I now want this set but I absolutely dislike the uniformity of the shipping containers. Can you offer some guidance as to how we might improve this (like your EEE)?
Just wondering, do you think a tooth bar would work for an update to the “gangway”?
https://brickset.com/parts/6457283/toothed-bar-m-1-z-10
Also, way to shout out @Istokg ! Now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time. A long time. :o)
They clearly tried to go for appropriate scale in most places here even is there were other non-scale options that might have looked better. I just went and scoured 10241 EEE again and think I might actually prefer that one, even if the scale is unrealistic. I also just noticed the use of the recolored life guard rescue can as the life boats on the EEE and love it.
@yellowcastle said:
" @Huw - how was the color consistency?"
He didn't build it.
"Also, do we know why LEGO doesn’t use more transparent stickers since they never seem to match?"
On a guess, the clear stickers may be more expensive to produce, but also people complain about them looking like trash because they get fingerprints on the sticky side that show through the sticker. But the latter problem is easy enough to deal with by making sure your hands are clean before you place the stickers, use the tile-popper end of the brick separator to place them, and really rub the sticker down onto the part after you've got them placed the way you want.
"Also, way to shout out @Istokg ! Now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time. A long time. :o)"
We were just talking about him in my club. He lives in the area, and dropped in to check out one of our displays quite a few years ago, but the only place I really remember him posting with frequency is LUGNET, and that place isn't very active anymore.
@PurpleDave said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @Huw - how was the color consistency?"
He didn't build it."
From the article: “ This article has been a collaboration between myself and Huw. Huw has built the model in the UK and I have written the text from the other side of the globe.”
@PurpleDave said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @Huw - how was the color consistency?"
He didn't build it.
"Also, do we know why LEGO doesn’t use more transparent stickers since they never seem to match?"
On a guess, the clear stickers may be more expensive to produce, but also people complain about them looking like trash because they get fingerprints on the sticky side that show through the sticker. But the latter problem is easy enough to deal with by making sure your hands are clean before you place the stickers, use the tile-popper end of the brick separator to place them, and really rub the sticker down onto the part after you've got them placed the way you want.
"Also, way to shout out @Istokg ! Now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time. A long time. :o)"
We were just talking about him in my club. He lives in the area, and dropped in to check out one of our displays quite a few years ago, but the only place I really remember him posting with frequency is LUGNET, and that place isn't very active anymore."
Gary Istok! I can't remember now; was he the guy that collected all sorts of old style windows or was he the guy that had the most comprehensive Web page on Lego pneumatics?
If that website about Lego pneumatics is still live, I'd really like to know how to reach it.
@yellowcastle
At the scale of these two container ships (approximately 1:600) a forty-foot container is two studs long and two plates high. My Maersk Triple E MOC uses 1x4 bricks as forty-foot containers (three plates high). The containers on the top are two plates and one tile. But that size is too big.
I want to improve that MOC by having a colour mix of two studs long and two plates high "containers" in that model.
The 2x4 bricks in the Maersk Triple E set sit on a 4x12 brick across each “bay”.
https://brickset.com/parts/6052831/brick-4x12
Underneath that, the 4x12 brick sits on a brown plate that is 4x10. If I wanted to make random coloured ‘containers’ two plates high, I would need the outer rows made up of 2x2 corner plates to have one stud connected to the 4x10 brown plate with another coloured 1x1 plate next to them.
https://brickset.com/parts/4114077/corner-plate-1x2x2
@PurpleDave said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @Huw - how was the color consistency?"
He didn't build it."
From the article: “ This article has been a collaboration between myself and Huw. Huw has built the model in the UK and I have written the text from the other side of the globe.”
@PurpleDave
You are right, as mentioned, Huw built the model in the UK.
@yellowcastle
I have since purchased a set here in New Zealand and finished it. I have added all the MOC ideas I mentioned: it has a full set of navigation lights; the sidelights are down close to their correct level; there are two windlasses on the forecastle; and I have a white over red 1x1 plates each side where the pilot ladder would be rigged.
I have two radars on top of the wheelhouse and a taller main mast to allow for the aft masthead light.
The colour consistency is really good. The Medium Azur[e] colour parts match perfectly.
@yellowcastle said:
"Just wondering, do you think a tooth bar would work for an update to the “gangway”?
https://brickset.com/parts/6457283/toothed-bar-m-1-z-10 "
It would be too tall, from the looks of things.
I have learnt so much about this ship and related matters from your informative review. Thank you very much!
Thanks everyone for your supportive comments. I have really built up a shipping related following here at Brickset!
I was surprised to see the set available at my local store on Saturday as the official release date was Sunday. I MOCd some features in the 40955 Maersk Dual-Fuel Container Vessel to make it more realistic. I lowered the sidelights; added Masthead and Stern Lights; added a second radar; added the pilot ladder symbol on the side of the ship; and added windlasses on the forecastle.
My MOCs can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LegoSeaCaptain/permalink/2357163798117584/
@yellowcastle, colour consistency is very good.
Love the looks of this set and love this review, thank you so much for the good read! I'm happy this is a 12+ set, the normal boxes look much better than the boring black boxes. Hopefully this ship is the root for more Maersk sets in the future (a new version of 10219 would be amazing)
Making this a 12+ set is actually a pro because that means it gets beautiful box art. This wouldn't have happened if they marketed it as 18+, it would be another boring black box.
@FlagsNZ said:
"Thanks everyone for your supportive comments. I have really built up a shipping related following here at Brickset!"
I started reading the review, then thought, "Oh, who did this review?" and flicked me eye up to the top. ThenI was like "Duh, who else?"
As usual for a @FlagsNZ post, I learned a lot!
A couple more copy-editing notes:
"There are two 4×4 recesses in the hull."
I think those are 2×2 recesses.
"Hyudai Heavy Industries"
Hyundai
@FuddRuckus said:
"As usual for a @FlagsNZ post, I learned a lot!
A couple more copy-editing notes:
"There are two 4×4 recesses in the hull."
I think those are 2×2 recesses.
"Hyudai Heavy Industries"
Hyundai"
I've fixed those mistakes. Thanks.