Ocean health

The issue

Ocean health is pivotal to the health of nature and people. Nearly three-quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans that regulate the climate, feed the world’s population, act as habitat for species, provide energy, and allow for transport and trade. Oceans are and will continue to absorb a significant amount of the world’s heat and emissions. This results in water resources disappearing, floods and landslides, changes in global food supply, and the degradation of ecosystems and infrastructure.

What we do

We strive to comply with the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention through clear standard operating procedures for ballast water, and monitor and report on all non-compliances. All relevant vessels delivered to A.P. Moller - Maersk from 2012 and beyond has been equipped with ballast water treatment systems. We also support a robust enforcement system for the regulation of ballast water. Without it, the playing field will be highly uneven and the motivation for investing in compliance will decrease. 

We seek to support ocean science research through data collection and partnerships. We are currently involved with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under the U.S. Department of Commerce, as part of our broader collaboration with the World Ocean Council’s ‘Smart Oceans – SMART Industries’ initiative to develop a programme to improve data collection from selected areas. We are also part of the UN Global Compact Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform, a three-year project to develop and share methods and models for corporate action on ocean protection.

In the area of plastic litter, we have established collaboration with the Ocean Cleanup project, a non-profit organisation that has developed systems to collect plastic debris for recycling in oceans and rivers. Collecting and removing plastic already in the oceans will, however, not solve the real problem which is mainly caused by insufficient waste management on land, rivers and sea, and we know that making the oceans healthy will require a multi-layer solution with a multitude of innovation and change.

Ocean Cleanup Project

World Ocean Council

UNGC Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform

Read our case studies:

• Taking the complexity out of trade process through digital financing 
• The Ocean Cleanup

Learn more

• Progress 2019
• Progress 2020