Maersk: 50 Years in Container Shipping!

08.09.2025

On September 5, 1975, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller launched the company’s first container service from the US East Coast to Asia — marking the Danish giant’s entry into a new sector, albeit later than its rivals.

While Maersk could have joined container shipping back in the 1960s, it initially chose to diversify into aviation, oil, and gas. But by the early 1970s it became clear: containerization was reshaping global trade and could no longer be ignored.

In 1973, Maersk ordered nine containerships, and by August 1975 its first vessel — Adrian Maersk, with a capacity of 1,800 TEU — was delivered.

By 1985, the company had become the world’s third-largest carrier, and today Maersk stands as the second-largest container line worldwide.

Half a century of history — and this is only the beginning!