The tenth large post-panamax container vessel for A. P. Møller was built at Odense Steel Shipyard. Clifford Maersk is number ten in the series of large container vessels for Maersk Line with a capacity of 6,600 TEU (twenty-foot containers) which also includes more than 700 forty-foot reefer containers.

The vessel is 347 metres long, 43 metres wide, has a depth of 24 metres and a draught of 14,5 metres when fully loaded. This highly automated ship has advanced alarm systems. It is equipped with a 12-cylinder MAN-B&W diesel engine developing 74,640 BHP, and at 94 revolutions per minute the fully loaded vessel reaches a speed of 25 knots. The ship is equipped with five diesel-generators each providing more than 3,000 kW. To facilitate easy manoeuvring in port, a bow thruster of 30 tons transverse thrust is installed as well as two stern thrusters each with 15 tons transverse thrust.