Maersk staff devise new method to transport clean water from vessels to ports

Fresh water scarcity is a pressing issue affecting billions of people worldwide, with projections indicating that half of the global population could face water scarcity by 2025. In response to this challenge, a team of three former seafarers from A.P. Moller – Maersk embarked on an innovative project to store and deliver fresh water from cargo ships to ports. These ships utilize fresh water generator systems to produce clean drinking water, with excess water traditionally going unused but now being stored in tank containers for delivery.

During a pilot run, two tank containers, each holding 25,000 liters of fresh water, were delivered to the Ports of Colombo and Salalah. The project aims to optimize the process on vessels to fill two tank containers per sea voyage, potentially creating a significant supply of fresh water for areas facing scarcity. The initiative has been well-received by stakeholders, with the CEO of Port of Salalah emphasizing the importance of sustainability and the potential impact of the project.

The project’s adherence to quality and environmental standards has been underscored by testing from the Ceylon Institute and a Life Cycle Assessment study. The fresh water delivered can be used for various purposes, ranging from consumption at port facilities to humanitarian activities in water-scarce regions. Maersk’s Head of Fleet Management and Technology highlighted the success of the pilot deliveries and expressed plans to expand efforts to more ports worldwide, aiming to improve access to clean drinking water for communities in need.

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