Today I visted University of Gothenburg, School of Business, Economics & Law for my annual Guest Professor Lecture for the Master Student Programme on Trade, Digitalization and Sustainability: Law and Policy.

Many thanks to all students for great dialogue & debate during our three hours together. My gratitude to the University & to Assistent Professor Trisha Rajput for organizing this lecture.

It is one of the highlights of the year to meet the students, learning is life – life is learning. See you on the road.

The future has a name!

Read the post from our CEO Vincent Clerc below about the naming of our first pioneer, methanol-enabled vessel, creating shipping history – when EU President Ursula von der Leyen gave ’Laura Maersk’ her name.

Vincent Clerc: Today we celebrate the naming of Laura Mærsk our first methanol-enabled vessel marking a special moment in shipping history. Proof of the entrepreneurial spirit that has characterized Maersk since the founding of the company and one that gives me purpose.

Thank you Madame President Ursula von der Leyen for christening our pioneering ship, many partner organisations have collaborated to make this vision a reality. I am so proud of the hard work done by colleagues across Maersk, not least our fantastic crew making this maiden journey. Customers are onboard and investing with us to decarbonize shipping and their supply chains.

Laura Mærsk marks a crucial first step, we have our large ocean-going vessels beginning to enter the fleet in 2024 as we build up momentum in the green transition. But it can’t be done by one company or one country, partnerships are needed.

The announcement of C2X today is a bold move but the right one to scale up the green fuel production the industry so desperately needs. Every day counts when it comes to the urgent task of getting to net zero.

In partnership with IMDA and Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore), Maersk has successfully tested the use of interoperable electronic Bills of Lading (eBLs) backed Letter of Credit transactions between Singapore and Indian banks and companies.

The collaboration paves the way for digital cross-border trade, with Minister Gan Kim Yong, “This is a substantial step towards achieving paperless trade, simplifying international transactions, and reducing costs.”

B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, Chief Executive Officer, of NITI Aayog similarly agrees in the milestone’s effectiveness of utilizing blockchain technology for cross-border trade finance.

This underlines Maersk’s continued commitment to adopt 100% eBLs by 2030.