By the early 1970s, Maersk faced a crucial decision. An initial internal study had dismissed containerization as risky and unnecessary. But by 1972, a second review reversed that conclusion, warning that missing out on the emerging trend posed a far greater threat.

In May 1973, Maersk ordered nine container ships from German shipyards. The first, the 1,800-TEU Adrian Maersk, was delivered in August 1975 and deployed on the Panama Line, a route Maersk had operated since 1928. Over the next decade, the company added 33 more container and semi-container vessels, phasing out most conventional liner services. By 1985, Maersk had become the world’s third-largest container carrier.

Containerization revolutionized global shipping. Standardized steel boxes dramatically reduced costs and damage to goods while slashing turnaround times for vessels. What once took weeks to load and unload could now be done in hours. Today, more than 37 million containers move across the world using over 19 million vessel slots. This efficiency triggered a surge in global trade and reshaped supply chains.

The scale of this change is mostly invisible to consumers. As journalist Rose George highlighted in her book Ninety Percent of Everything, modern life depends on container shipping — from smartphones and textiles to cars and fuel. Yet the industry operates largely out of sight, grappling with challenges such as “flags of convenience,” environmental impact, and labour conditions for its 1.5 million seafarers. Despite these issues, shipping remains the most environmentally efficient mode of large-scale freight transport.

As Maersk marks 50 years since Adrian Maersk’s maiden voyage, its focus is shifting to the future. Sustainability tops the agenda. While shipping’s carbon footprint is lower than that of other transport modes, it remains significant. Maersk has invested heavily in decarbonisation, including the launch of its first methanol-powered container vessel earlier this year and research into alternative fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen.

Digitalization is another key frontier. Smart technologies, blockchain, and AI-driven logistics are enabling real-time tracking and transparency across multimodal transport systems. At the same time, geopolitical disruptions — from trade wars to pandemic shutdowns and canal blockages — highlight the need for greater resilience in global supply chains.

From its humble beginnings with a single steamship in 1904, Maersk’s bold pivot to containerization reshaped global trade. Fifty years on, the steel container remains the backbone of world commerce — quietly carrying “ninety percent of everything” and driving the next era of innovation and sustainability.`