The E class comprises eight 14,770 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container ships.

The first in the class built was Emma Maersk by Odense Steel Shipyard Ltd., Denmark.

[5] In 2016, the decision was made to upgrade the capacity of the ships and make them more efficient at lower speeds.

To help maintain stability, flume tanks were added on the sides of the accommodation block.

The work was carried out at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry's shipyard in China.