Maersk Line, Denmark, has been named Sustainable Shipping Operator of The Year for its reductions in energy consumption and emissions. The award, presented by Sustainable Shipping at a ceremony in London on July 15, was given to Maersk Line in recognition of its efforts in reducing the environmental impact of its business operations.
Maersk Line proved that two-stroke engines on container vessels were able to run continuously at low loads ensuring a more flexible and energy-efficient vessel operation. In 2007, Maersk Line initiated a study on 110 vessels which showed that despite traditional policy of 40 to 60 percent as minimum engine load, it was safe to go as low as ten percent.