Environmental effects of Maersk Line's global container shipping operation

Abstract

This article investigates emissions from a container ship fleet’s worldwide operation regarding spatial distribution and negative externality on regional ports. It is the first to study the adverse effects of a mega operator’s transport activities. A bottom-up model is developed to compute emissions using ships’ voyage data and applied in the service network of Maersk Line, the world’s biggest carrier. The fleet of 653 units (3.52 m TEUs) serves a global network with a weekly travelling distance of 1,043,845 miles. Such large-scale activities result in weekly emissions of 683,428 tonnes of CO2 and other pollutants, equivalent to an external cost of €202.3 m. Emissions are primarily released on the focal East-West shipping network to connect East Asia, Europe, and North America. The fleet serves 353 ports in all continents, but focuses mainly on a few strategic spots, leading to most in-port emissions in East Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean Sea.