The history and heritage of A.P. Moller - Maersk

Connecting the world for more than a century.

Dive into the story of Maersk

From our humble beginnings as a steamship company to becoming the Global Integrator of Logistics, our heritage has many facets. We’re proud of our long history of connecting the world and delivering value through our actions, commitments and goals.

Dive into Maersk – all the challenges and achievements from our rich past to our present day – and discover the people and stories that made us who we are today.

Explore our history
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Inside the Blue Gallery, Maersk Museum
Inside the Blue Gallery, Maersk Museum
Maersk ship in danish town svendborg

Foundation, 1904-1912

Maersk is founded in the small Danish town of Svendborg
Maersk ship route in Denmark map

Consolidation, 1913-1940

The company quickly becomes the leading shipping company in Denmark
Maersk ship during second world war conflict

The Second World War, 1940-1945

Many Maersk ships are requisitioned or lost during the conflict
Maersk expands in south east asia

Expansion, 1945-1975

New routes see Maersk expanding into Southeast Asia and beyond
Maersk ship during revolution

Containerisation, 1975-1986

The introduction of containerisation revolutionises the shipping industry
Maersk ship at berlin city

Becoming Global, 1986-2016

The fall of the Berlin Wall helps Maersk expand from 40 countries to over 100 in ten years
Maersk ships in digital transformation

Integration, 2016-present

Maersk undergoes huge digital transformation and sets ambitious decarbonisation targets

Strong foundations – our future is rooted in our past

To understand how Maersk came to be the Global Integrator of logistics we are today, we must look back over several generations of strong leadership.

The principles that guided the founding family paved the way for the values that will continue to guide Maersk now, and in the years to come.

Meet the founders
A.P. Møller oversees the launch of DRAGØR MÆRSK, 1961

Navigating Change

Explore the rich and captivating history of global trade, from the days of sailing ships to the complex supply chains of today. Throughout the years, major innovations such as steam power, containerization, and digital systems have transformed the industry and Maersk has borne witness to many of the industry’s revolutions and has navigated through the changes with a focus on innovation and adaptability, allowing the company to stay current and relevant to this day.
Read the full story
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Malcolm McLean

The values are a constant in an ever-changing world, an anchor and a beacon for us all. They are a link to the past, give us guidance today and will remain an integral part of our future.

Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla

Maersk in Containerisation Podcast

Join our historians Charlotte Andersen and Henning Morgen as they take us on an audio tour of the history of the container revolution.

There’s more to discover…

Our history and heritage are where it all began, but there’s much more to Maersk. Explore the links below to learn more about our core values, our efforts in sustainability, and diversity and inclusion across the organisation.
An employee smiling while holding a laptop.

Maersk core values

At Maersk, we have a distinctive set of core values. These principles are ingrained in the company and drive the way we do our business.
Laura maersk arriving Copenhegen

Sustainability at Maersk

Get an overview of our ESG strategy, categories and overall priorities.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – A group of smiling Maersk employees

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at workplace

Maersk’s DEI ambition is to connect diverse talents and create equitable, inclusive workplaces. Learn more about our DEI commitments, policy and progress here.

Learn more about Maersk

Solutions

Logistics solutions

We meet customer needs from one end of the supply chain to the other.
Solutions
careers

Careers

Discover job vacancies, find out how to apply to them, and learn more about careers at Maersk.
Careers
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Press

Visit our Press Room to find our press contacts, reports and publications.
Press