Today's trade is global. A company can choose to have its headquarters in one part of the world, its production facilities in another and sell its brands in all markets. Since the first sea-borne container transport took place in 1956, the shipping industry has been one of the main facilitators of the globalisation of trade. This book traces the rise to prominence of Maersk Line - the world's leading container operator - and the internal decision-making processes that lay behind the firm's extraordinary expansion between 1973 and 2013. With unprecedented access to company archives, interviews with current and former employees, and extensive statistical information provided by The Economist Intelligence Unit, Containerisation International and Lloyd's Register, this is a valuable resource for students of logistics, shipping or international business. This first inside account of the challenges of building a global business will also appeal to industry specialists and the general business reader.

‘The global shipping industry has been a major driver and enabler underpinning the massive growth in world trade in recent decades. One of the major players in the sector - and one of the most innovative - has been Maersk Line. This fascinating book provides many insights not only into the development of Maersk itself but also the impact that the industry as a whole has had on the way that the world does business.’

Dr Martin Christopher - Emeritus Professor of Marketing and Logistics, Cranfield School of Management

‘This book is compulsory reading for all who are involved in container liner shipping. Maersk Line is no. 1 in the world, and its strategy is key for shaping this industry. And, this book offers a rare insight in just that - the successful strategy of Maersk Line under the leadership of the legendary Maersk McKinney Moeller.’

Professor Dr Peter Lorange - President/CEO, Lorange Institute of Business, Zurich, and former President, IMD, Lausanne

‘Many shipping company histories are chronicles laced with ship pictures. But this one goes much, much further. If you want to understand how the world's biggest shipping company got to where it is today, and its struggle to manage a meteoric expansion from 6% market share to 16%, then this book is an Aladdin's cave. The 40-year time series of financial statistics provides a unique quantified framework, against which the strategic and operational development of the company is played out.’

Professor Martin Stopford - President, Clarkson Research

'Any attempt to shed light on such a remarkable but reticent company is to be welcomed. The story behind Maersk is certainly a rich one.'

Source: Financial Times

'… [this] book is a very valuable source for insight into the inner workings of one of the world's largest shipping companies … [It will] appeal to readers interested in the development of the shipping industry in general, and the growth and transformation of Maersk Line in particular.'

Espen Ekberg Source: Forum Navale