With a main theme focusing on sustainability - in alignment with Maersk Line’s strategic direction - VELUX 5 OCEANS represents an attractive communications platform for positioning Maersk Line in the market.  

Today, 1st of July 2010, Maersk Line officially confirmed that they will be the official transportation partner of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. The event is a 35,000 mile round the world yacht race, and is claimed to be one of the toughest events for individual practitioners. So far, only 90 people have completed the race.

The race starts from La Rochelle in France on October 17, 2010, and features five ocean sprints. After heading from La Rochelle to Cape Town, the race will then take in Wellington in New Zealand, Salvador in Brazil and Charleston in the US before returning back across the Atlantic to France in June 2011.

“VELUX 5 OCEANS puts focus on sustainability, which fits the strategic direction of Maersk Line very well. As the leading global company within shipping, we also have a global responsibility – a responsibility we take seriously. Therefore, we also wish to support projects putting environment and sustainability on the global agenda”, says Anders Nørgaard, Head of Change and Mobilization in Maersk Line Sustainability.

Maersk Line will provide complimentary shipping services to the skippers, partners and stakeholders before and during the 35,000 mile round the world yacht race. By assisting with transportation, equipment and logistics to ensure that race material will be at the right location at the right time, we will contribute proactively to a successful VELUX 5 OCEAN race 2010. ”The past couple of year, we had an increased focus on environment and sustainability in Maersk Line – hence, also in our strategic work. VELUX 5 OCEANS is a good communications platform through which we can position ourselves as a sustainable company focusing not only on the present, but to a high degree the future. Consequently, jumping into this opportunity did not only seem to be the right solution, but the natural choice”, Lars Sinnerup, Sustainability Event Manager, says.

Anders Nørgaard adds; “We are setting sails for a new and more sustainable horizon to the benefit of our customers, employees and the surrounding society. Therefore, we are proud to lend our support to the sailors undertaking this great challenge. The determination of the organisers to create an event that is accessible and affordable for a broader group of sailors and their focus on encouraging environmental best practice, aligns with our own philosophy, and we are confident that this year’s race will create an exciting new chapter in the VELUX 5 OCEANS’ history”.

In connection with the events in the host ports, the Climate Box, introduced during COP15, will get a makeover and be present in La Rochelle, Cape Town, Wellington, and Charleston. Besides attracting people by its sheer size and colourful rooms, the purpose is to put focus on the A. P. Moller-Maersk Groups’ attempts to explain what we are doing to save energy, reduce CO2 emissions, and prevent climate change.

Also the partners are looking forward to the cooperation, and they emphasize the importance of sustainability as a key focus area. Michael Rasmussen, Chief Marketing Officer, of the VELUX Group, comments; ”We are very pleased to have Maersk Line onboard as partner and we look forward to work closely together during the race, especially on the sustainability agenda. Maersk Line and the VELUX Group share many similarities also a common business philosophy about being best in class, which makes it even more obvious to use the race for joined events”.

Want to know more?

VELUX 5 OCEANS
» http://www.velux5oceans.com

Maersk Line Contact Person
- Anders Nørgaard - mail: (anders.norgaard@maersk.com) or phone: +45 33 63 50 76