Danish containers shipping giant Maersk signed a land transfer contract on Dec 21 with the administration of the Lin-gang Special Area – located in East China's Shanghai – to build its first intelligent and green storage center in the country.

A design drawing of Maersk's planned intelligent and green storage facility in Lin-gang. [Photo/WeChat ID: shlgguanweihui]

With a total investment of more than 1 billion yuan ($143 million), the flagship storage facility is expected to complete construction and start operating in the third quarter of 2024.

The facility will have a floor space of about 110,000 square meters, with a designed storage area of about 150,000 sq m – including four, three-story standard warehouses and 24-meter intelligent warehouses equipped with automated storage and retrieval systems.

The storage center will provide global customers with various value-added products and services through a number of channels – including regional and global order fulfillment, e-commerce logistics and customs processed channels.

Officials said that the geological advantages and policy support of the Lin-gang Special Area would help Maersk create smart supply chains for its customers and promote its global business development.

The storage center will also use eco-friendly materials and advanced rainwater management systems, with solar panels installed on the roof to collect renewable energy.

In the meantime, the facility will be equipped with LED lighting, a non-fossil energy powered heating system, charging facilities for electric vehicles and other equipment. This will help with its green operations, maintenance and management.

After starting operations, it is expected to provide customers with all-round green supply chain solutions.

It will also simplify customer supply chains through a digital and intelligent innovative system, create more competitive and resilient logistics solutions for customers, help them expand their global trade network and achieve sustainable development.

As a global logistics leader, Maersk works to connect and simplify its customer supply chains, operating in more than 130 countries and employing over 100,000 people worldwide.

The Danish group is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2040 across its entire business with new technologies, new vessels and green fuels.