Danish shipping firm Maersk Line has signed an order for seven container vessels from COSCO Shipyard in China as the first step in a $15 billion investment programme over five years. The companies said in a statement on Thursday they would not give details of the price of the vessels. The deal included an option for two extra vessels, within eight months. Maersk said it was the first deal in a planned expansion. Maersk Line Chief Operating Officer Søren Toft said in a statement: “We expect to place additional orders during 2015”.