Yachtsmen in North Sea and English Channel waters this August may catch a glimpse of the world’s biggest container ship as she makes her maiden voyage from South Korea to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

The Maersk Triple-E is a staggering 400m long and has a bridge only a third shorter than a 137m pyramid. A 34m blue whale looks like a tender to the giant ship and she is powered by two super long-stroke engines which drive two four-bladed props.

She will have 16 per cent more cargo space than the current largest ship.