A.P. Moller-Maersk Aims for Lower Emissions

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The world’s largest container shipping fleet cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 3 percent in 2007, and plans to slash emissions another 10 percent by 2012.

The A.P Moller-Maersk Group of Denmark operates a fleet of 323 vessels, tankers, gas carriers, ferries and supply vessels.  It is currently at work on more than 100 projects to increase efficiency, such as optimizing pump and ventilation systems, electronically-controlled engines and propeller maintenence, among other projects.

In its 2007 environmental report released last week, the company explained that it has introduced new energy efficient PS-class container vessels with room for 11,000 containers. The larger ships emit half as much carbon dioxide per container as smaller L-class vessels, which can transport 3,700 containers.

A.P. Moller-Maersk will receive six new vessels in 2008 that will have waste heat recovery systems that will use waste heat for propulsion to improve fuel economy. An additional 17 vessels are equipped with the systems.

“The less fuel we use, the less CO2 we emit,” said L. Robert Pedersen, the copany’s director of technical organization. “This is good for the environment and economically beneficial to us, as environmental initiatives often go hand in hand with commercial advantages.”