Maersk Line is to be named Sustainable Shipping Operator of The Year for challenging the shipping industry and bringing about significant reductions in energy consumption and emissions.
The award, presented by Sustainable Shipping at an awards ceremony in London on 15 July, was given to Maersk Line in recognition of the efforts it has made in reducing the environmental impact of its business operations. Maersk Line has proved that the two-stroke engines on its container vessels are able to run continuously at low loads ensuring a more flexible and energy-efficient vessel operation.
In 2007, Maersk Line initiated a comprehensive study on 110 vessels, which shows that despite traditional policy on 40-60 per cent as minimum engine load, it is safe to go as low as 10 per cent. This makes it possible for containerships to sail at half speed, thereby reducing not only fuel costs significantly, but also CO2 emissions.
Environmental footprint
“We are dedicated to minimising our environmental footprint and conducting our business in a sustainable fashion. Therefore we are very pleased to win the award as Sustainable Shipping Operator. We have challenged the myths in the industry and with research documented that the savings potential of slow steaming is a lot bigger than previously thought,” says Søren Stig Nielsen, Senior Director and Head of Sustainability in Maersk Line, who received the award on behalf of the company.
