LEGO has a long history with the Maersk shipping company dating all the way back to 1974 when the first LEGO Maersk container-ship was released. Through the years there has been three versions of the Maersk container-ship (the #1650 from 1974, the #10152 from 2004, the #10155 from 2010, and now the #10241 is going to be the fourth). There were also three versions of Maersk cargo-trucks (the #1651 from 1980, the #1552 from 1985, and the #1831 from 1995). And of course the beautiful #10219 LEGO Maersk Train released in 2004. I guess this long-term relationship has to do with the fact that both LEGO and Maersk are companies from Denmark. To continue the tradition, LEGO just announced the release of a new LEGO Maersk ship, the #10241 Maersk Line Triple-E cargo-ship. Below is the official press release, pictures, as well as the designer-video by Jamie Berard. So let’s see what we got! 🙂

#10241 LEGO MAERSK LINE TRIPLE-E CARGO SHIP: Build the Maersk ‘Triple-E’ container vessel – a true giant of the seas! Presenting the largest ship in the world – the record-breaking Maersk ‘Triple-E’. Built from over 1,500 bricks, the model recreates the real vessel in amazing detail. Our LEGO designers have included rare colors such as medium-azure, dark-red, sand-blue and sand-green. There are rotating gold-colored screw-blades leading to the brick-built twin propeller engines, which you can view through the window built into the port side of the ship. You can even customize it by adding or removing the containers. This authentic set includes a display-stand and fact-plaque with detailed information about the ship and, as a finishing touch, there’s the gold coin that is added under the mast of all Maersk Line ships for good luck on their voyages!

Features of the LEGO Maersk Ship include rotating gold colored propeller blades, brick-built twin 8-cylinder engines, viewing window into the engine compartment, adjustable rudders, detachable lifeboats, removable containers, rotating crane-arms and a special ‘good luck’ coin.

• Includes rare medium-azure, dark-red, sand-blue and sand-green colored elements
• Play with the model on carpeted surfaces or mount the model on the display-stand
• Building instructions also include interesting facts about the real ship
• Includes 1,518 bricks
• Ship (mounted on stand) measures over 8” (21cm) high, 25” (65cm) long and 3” (9cm) wide
• Recommended for ages 12+
• US $149.99 – CA $179.99 – DE 129.99 € – UK 109.99 £ – DK 1199.00 DKK
• Available for sale directly through LEGO, beginning January 2014 via the Online LEGO Shop or LEGO-brand stores

Interesting to note that instead of using the previously released Maersk-blue color, that was available exclusively in the LEGO Maersk sets, this time LEGO is using medium-azure, a color introduced with the LEGO Friends line. Medium-azure is actually quite similar to the original Maersk-blue, but brighter. If you own the Maersk line of LEGO sets and you are worried about the colors clashing, I would say that the original Maersk-blue color kind of looks like a sun-faded version of medium-azure. I don’t think this would look unrealistic even when mixed, after all cargo carrying vehicles and vessels do go though quite a bit of use and abuse. The color was apparently changed because the Maersk company itself freshened up their color-scheme, and LEGO’s medium-azure is closer to the new color.

I’m not so happy about is the huge amount of stickers applied to the Maersk ship. Unfortunately this is not new; previous LEGO Maersk sets also came with lots of stickers and not printed parts. And what is even worse is that several of the stickers are applied over an assembly of parts – which basically means that ones you build this set you won’t be able to take it apart without ruining the stickers. If you are planning to buy it, I recommend getting extra stickers-sheets though LEGO’s customer service, or from BrickLink. This will assure that you will have fresh stickers in case the ones on your display-model get ruined, or if you decide to sell the set in the future. If you are interested in previously released LEGO Maersk sets, you can find the on BrickLink or Ebay: LEGO Maersk sets on eBay

So what do you think? How do you like the new LEGO Maersk Container Ship? Do you own any of the previously released LEGO Maersk sets? How do you like them? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! 😉

And you might also like to check out the following LEGO exclusive sets:

• LEGO Architecture Studio Set Review
• LEGO Winter Village Market Available Now!
• LEGO Ewok Village & Opera House Available!