AP Moller-Maersk is putting together a team to spearhead its decarbonisation efforts.

According to an internal announcement, the Danish boxship giant is tasking 50 employees with transforming the fleet, led by head of strategy Morten Bo Christiansen.

The aim is to accelerate the move towards zero-emission shipping and follows a review last year of climate scenarios and transition pathways.

Christiansen will take the new role of head of decarbonisation from 1 March, reporting to executive board member Henriette Thygesen, who is chief executive of fleet and strategic brands.

"This new function will be a strong enabler for our decarbonisation efforts, and I look very much forward to working with Morten and the team," Thygesen said.

"Logistics providers without very ambitious decarbonisation plans risk becoming irrelevant, and we want to stay at the forefront."

The team will ensure collaboration across commercial, operational, technological and corporate divisions.

The group said it is "critically important" that the eco-agenda is embedded in the business.

"Looking ahead, carbon emissions will start to incur costs on AP Moller-Maersk and our customers, which also contributes to an overall strong business logic to invest in decarbonisation," said chief executive Soren Skou.

Greatest direct impact

Maersk believes it is 'critically important' that the eco-agenda is embedded in its business. Photo: Alf van Beem/Creative Commons

Forty-five staff will be recruited from the fleet management and technology unit, as well as a couple from Maersk Oil Trading.

Additionally, a few vacant positions will need to be filled by internal or external candidates.

"The new team will assist, inspire, set direction, provide focus and expertise, coordinate, and ensure transition pace,"​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Maersk said.​

Christiansen said the team's success will be defined by its ability to drive real business outcomes through collaboration and coordination.

Road map will be drawn up

"Vessel decarbonisation is beyond comparison the area where we can make the greatest direct impact; however, as we are expanding our customer offering as the global integrator, we also need to identify how we can go about the decarbonisation of the end-to-end supply chain," he added.

The work will involve developing and enabling execution of a decarbonisation road map, with a focus on digital solutions and innovations to drive future business opportunities.

In 2018, the company launched a vision of having net-zero CO2 emissions from operations by 2050 and carbon-neutral vessels commercially viable by 2030.

"Two short years later, we have come further than we even dared to imagine at that time," Maersk said.

"In 2018, a 2050 net-zero ambition for shipping was a moon-shot goal. Today, it is a challenging target to reach, but clearly possible."

A number of Maersk clients have come to the same conclusion and are working with the group.

Christiansen has been nearly 10 years with Maersk. Before becoming head of strategy, he was head of supply chain and procurement at Maersk Drilling. He has also worked for the Boston Consulting Group and COWI.