Peter Mærsk Møller's ship VALKYRIEN was wrecked off the coast of Scotland in 1883, leaving him with no source of income.

Peter Mærsk Møller acquired a small steamship and established the Steamship Company Laura in 1886, driven by the necessity to provide for his family and the conviction that steamships would be the future.

Peter Mærsk Møller, also known as A.P. Møller, was born in 1899. He was the founder of the company that eventually became today’s A.P. Moller - Maersk.

On April 16, 1904, the first Maersk branch was established in the Danish city of Svendborg as a shipping company Dampskibsselskabet Svendborg. The company was built by the captain Peter Mærsk-Møller and his son Arnold Peter Møller. They managed to raise adequate capital for the purchase of a used steamboat named Svendborg.

The Møllers established a second shipping company, Dampskibsselskabet af 1912, Aktieselskab, based in Copenhagen in 1912, further expanding their presence in the shipping sector.

Anna and Peter Mærsk Møller celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1914.

In 1917, A.P. Møller & Son established Odensk shipyards to build ships for its own and other fleets, contributing to the company's vertical integration in the shipping industry.

The first shipyard of the Maersk company was built in 1918 with the aim of constructing ships based on the company's shipping experience.

In 1919, Maersk opened its first office abroad in New York under the name ISMOLCO, marking a significant expansion in its operations.

Odense Yard delivers its first diesel-powered vessel Leise Maersk to A.P. Møller.

A.P. Møller enters into the tanker business and orders 5 motor tankers with 8,100 and 11,200 tdw.

A.P. Møller gets its first tanker, the 11,200 tdw motor tanker Emma Mærsk, built by Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen.

Odense Yard builds its first tanker, the 8,000 tdw M.T. Anna Mærsk.

A.P. Møller becomes the co-owner of the weapons factory Riffelsyndikatet.

Mærsk Line gets the 9,000 tdw cargo motorship Nora Mærsk from Odense Yard, but after 2 years of service it sinks due to a fire in Indonesia.

The 16,500 tdw motortanker Eleonora Mærsk is delivered from the Deutsche Werft, Hamburg-Finkenwerder and is the biggest ship of the Mærsk fleet and also the largest single-crew motorship in the world.

Mærsk Line receives two 9,000 tdw motor cargo ships from Bremer Vulkan. The vessels are named Marchen Mærsk and Grete Mærsk.

In February 1939, Odense Yard delivers the 9,200 tdw M.S. Laura Mærsk, the largest cargo ship, to the Mærsk fleet.

At the beginning of World War II in September 1939, A.P. Møller's shipping company becomes the second largest in Denmark with a total of 46 ships.

On 8 April 1940, A.P. Møller issues Permanent Special Instruction One to the 36 Mærsk ships on the high seas, in anticipation of Denmark's involvement in war.

On 9 April 1940, German forces occupied Denmark, leading to the requisition of 36 Maersk fleet ships by allied forces and the use of the remaining ships to transport German coal and coke. A total of 25 Maersk ships were wrecked during the war, resulting in the loss of 150 seafarers' lives.

On 24 April 1940, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller is made a partner in the company, and on 26 April he and his wife leave Denmark, managing the New York office throughout World War II.

In June 1941, the United States takes control of foreign ships, and the Mærsk fleet serves in the US Navy for the rest of the war, with more than half of the fleet being lost.

On 10 May 1943, the Riffelsyndikatet company is sabotaged by members of the Danish resistance, leading A.P. Møller to personally request an end to sabotage for the benefit of Danish interests.

On 22 June 1944, a new sabotage action is taken by members of the resistance group BOPA, who occupy Riffelsyndikatet and prevent the resumption of production for the remainder of World War II.

In June 1945, Mærsk's pre-WWII fleet had been reduced to just seven ships, with another 14 ships remaining under the control of the US shipping board until 1946.

In 1947, Maersk Møller and the company's headquarters returned to Denmark after the wartime exile, leading to the company's operations becoming more international in scope.

Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, the youngest daughter of Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller and his wife, Emma, was born in 1948.

In the mid-1950s, A.P. Møller's shipbuilding arm was awarded the contract to build a number of 50,000-ton tankers for the California Shipping Company, leading to the construction of a new shipyard in Lindo to accommodate tankers of this size.

In 1951, the company established a new ship brokering operation, Maersk Company, in the United Kingdom, further expanding its international operations.

In 1953, A.P. Møller established the A.P. Moller Foundation to ensure a stable, long-term ownership structure for the company and to have a positive impact on society.

In 1955, Maersk introduced a light blue color to its logo for the first time. The newly built ship Regina Maersk was the first to have a painted hull in light blue, and the entire fleet was eventually painted in this color.

On 26th April 1956, a converted tanker vessel called IDEAL X departed from Newark, bound for Houston, with a cargo of 58 containers. This event marked the maiden voyage of the first containerised ship, which revolutionized global trade.

In 1959, A.P. Møller completed a new shipyard at Lindo to construct larger vessels, demonstrating the company's commitment to innovation and growth in the shipping industry.

A.P. Møller oversees the launch of DRAGØR MÆRSK in 1961, which marked a significant milestone in the history of Maersk's development as a global logistics integrator.

In June 1962, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller formalised the values that were central to the success of the company, aiming to pass them on to future generations of Maersk employees and leaders.

In 1964, A.P. Møller acquired the supermarket group F. Salling A/S, which was founded in 1906 and later renamed Dansk Supermarked. This acquisition marked the company's entry into the retail sector, leading to significant growth and expansion in Denmark and internationally.

The death of A.P. Møller in 1965 marked the end of more than 60 years in business, during which the company grew from a single vessel to a fleet of nearly 90 vessels and diversified into various industries. His son, Maersk McKinney Møller, took over control of the company and continued the diversification efforts.

In 1966, the Bulkcarrier Laura Mærsk was the last ship produced at the old Odense Yard, leading to its closure.

In 1967, the Odense Lindø Yard was enlarged with a new construction dock and crane, enabling the construction of VLCC tankers, ULCC Tankers, and Ultra-Post-Panamax container ships.

In 1968, Maersk opened the route between Europe and Asia. New, optimized ships with higher capacity started traveling to the Far East.

In 1969, the cargo liner CLIFFORD MÆRSK started carrying containers as special cargo, marking the introduction of container shipping by Maersk Line.

In 1970, Maersk became an early entrant into the container shipping category with the launch of its first container ship, the Svendborg Maersk. This marked the company's pioneering role in revolutionizing international shipping through containerization.

In 1971, the company extended its interest in plastics by acquiring Rosti A/S, a manufacturer of various plastic products including bottles, thermoplastic packing foam, and flowerpots.

In 1972, the company expanded its activities to include the operation of drilling rigs and related oil and gas production units. It also founded a fleet of dedicated gas tankers, marking its entry into gas transportation.

To keep the USA-ASIA service competitive, Maersk made the decision to invest in cellular container ships, containers, and equipment in 1973 as containerisation became more widespread.

In 1974, Maersk launched its first fully built container vessel with a capacity of 1,800 20ft containers, marking a significant milestone in the company's expansion into the shipping industry.

On 5 September 1975, the first fully containerised service of Maersk was launched with the departure of ADRIAN MAERSK from Port Elizabeth on the US East Coast loaded with 385 containers. This event marked the beginning of large-scale containerisation for the Maersk fleet, revolutionizing the shipping industry.

The Maersk company created larger container ships in 1980, breaking world records. This innovation revolutionized the shipping industry and had a significant impact on global trade.

In 1982, A.P. Møller went public, listing its two operating companies, Aktieselskabet Dampskibsselskabet Svendborg and Dampskibsselskabet af 1912, Aktieselskab, on the Copenhagen stock exchange. This move allowed the company to remain family-controlled while expanding its business empire.

MaerskNet, launched in 1983, became one of the largest private communication networks, playing a crucial role in facilitating communication within the company and potentially beyond.

In 1985, A.P. Møller expanded its shipping business by acquiring Norfolkline, which operated door-to-door logistics services in Europe and ferry lines between the United Kingdom and the continent.

During the period of 1986-2008, Maersk experienced significant expansion and growth, solidifying its position as a major player in the global shipping industry.

In 1988, Møller's Odensk operation began construction of the new 'Panamax' containers, designed to pass through the Panama Canal. This move was in response to the rising importance of container transport.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, new opportunities arose in new markets, and Maersk expanded its reach from 40 countries in 1990 to more than 100 countries just ten years later. This expansion significantly contributed to the globalisation of trade.

By 1990, Maersk had established offices in 40 countries, reflecting its rapid growth and global presence in the shipping and trade sector.

In 1991, Maersk extended its industrial operations by forming Maersk Container Industri, a manufacturer of containers for Maersk and other shippers.

In December 1992, Odense Yard produced the world's first double-hull 300,000 tdw tanker, Eleo Mærsk, which was the beginning of a series of sister ships for Mærsk Line and additional ships for Saudi Arabian VELA.

In March 1993, Mærsk Line acquired EacBen Container Line Ltd., which included 9 large container ships, making Mærsk Line the largest container business in the world.

In 1994, Maersk expanded its oil and gas operation by beginning oil production in Qatar.

In December 1995, Hyundai H.I., Ulsan delivered the 4,300 TEU Panamax container ship Dragør Mærsk, marking the beginning of a series of 16 ships for Mærsk Line.

In January 1996, the world's largest container ship, Regina Mærsk, was delivered from Odense Yard, setting multiple records in terms of capacity, length, breadth, BRZ, and tdw.

In May 1996, the Mærsk cooperation with P&O ended, and a new global containerservice with Sealand Corporation was initiated.

In September 1997, Odense Yard delivered Sovereign Maersk, the world's first 8,000 TEU and more than 100,000 tdw container ship, which also held the record for being the longest ship in the world at that time.

On 31st January 1998, A.P. Møller Group acquired the Volkswerft in Stralsund (Germany) and modernized it to produce container ships for the Mærsk fleet, along with supply vessels and cable-laying vessels.

In February 1999, Mærsk acquired the Safmarine container line, along with the Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB), which included 50 owned and chartered container vessels.

In November 1999, Mærsk acquired container shipper Sea-Land Corporation, including 70 vessels, container terminals, and liner service from the CSX Corporation. The shipping company was renamed Mærsk Sealand.

In June 2001, Mærsk purchased the Dutch Smit-Wijsmüller salvage company, including the ESVAGT company, through its subsidiary A/S Em Z. Svitzer. This acquisition made the Mærsk group the operator of the world's largest fleet of salvage and offshore vessels.

In September 2002, Mærsk acquired the shipping liner activities of the Danish company Dampskibsselskabet TORM, which operated routes from the United States to the Persian Gulf and from the Eastern seaboard of the United States to the west coast of Africa. These routes are now operated by Safmarine within the Mærsk group.

In March 2003, Odense Yard produced Axel Mærsk, which was the world's biggest and longest container ship at that time, with the world's largest cargo capacity. It was the first container ship with specific dimensions and engine specifications.

In April 2004, the first LNG-carrier with the name Mærsk Las Raffan entered the Mærsk fleet, marking a significant addition to the company's operations.

From May to October 2004, Volkswerft built three containerships for Safmarine, each with a capacity of 2100 TEU, contributing to the expansion of the shipping fleet.

Mærsk announces plans to acquire the rival shipping company P&O Nedlloyd for 2.3 billion euros, aiming to address the undercapacity of the world container market and expand its capacity by a third. This acquisition will make Mærsk the largest single shipping company and the largest container line in the world.

P&O sells its last 25% share of Nedlloyd stocks to A.P. Møller and two Scandinavian banks, Danske Bank and Nordea.

A.P. Møller-Mærsk agrees to sell Maersk Air to Fons Eignarhaldsfélag, Iceland.

A.P. Møller-Mærsk announces the completion of the purchase of Royal P&O Nedlloyd N.V., which will be merged with Mærsk-Sealand. The new company will be named Mærsk Line.

In August 2006, Maersk set a new world record for the largest container ship with the 11,000 TEU Emma Mærsk, built at Odense Steel Shipyard.

In March 2007, Evelyn Mærsk was launched, joining sister ships Emma Mærsk, Elly Mærsk, Eleonora Mærsk, and Estelle Mærsk.

In January 2008, Maersk Line announced details of its new streamLINE strategy to drive the turnaround of the business and return to sustainable profitability, including a reduction of 2–3,000 positions worldwide and in the number of regional organizations.

On 8 April 2009, the container ship Maersk Alabama was seized by pirates in the Indian Ocean at a distance of 240 nautical miles (440 km; 280 mi) southeast of Eyl, Somalia. The siege ended after a rescue effort by the United States Navy on 12 April.

In February 2011, Maersk announced orders for a new 'Triple E' series of containerships, which would be the world's largest at 18,000 TEU, with an emphasis on lower fuel consumption.

In 2012, Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla assumed the role of chair of the family foundations after her father, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, passed away.

On 1 February 2013, the container ship Emma Maersk suffered a damaged stern thruster and took on so much water in the Suez Canal that she became unmaneuverable. Tugs, anchors and the wind took her to Port Said to offload 13,500 containers, drain her and be investigated by divers. She had not been in danger of sinking.

On February 14, 2014, the container ship Svendborg lost about 520 40'-containers, 85% of them empty, others containing non-dangerous goods in a 60 knot storm.

In November 2015, Maersk Line announced its decision to lay off 4000 employees by 2017, along with other cost-cutting measures. This move was a response to lower than expected results and aimed at improving the company's financial performance.

In 2016, A.P. Moller - Maersk announced a reorganization into two separate divisions: Transport & Logistics and Energy, with the aim of becoming a focused integrated transport & logistics company. This strategic move was driven by the need for continued, sustainable growth and a shift towards digital transformation and ambitious decarbonisation targets.

The Maersk NotPetya cyberattack occurred on June 27, 2017, leading to significant disruptions in Maersk's operations. It is a notable incident in the realm of cybersecurity and has had a lasting impact on the company's operations and reputation.

Since 1 December 2017, Hamburg Süd had been part of Maersk, marking a significant expansion of Maersk's presence in the global container shipping market.

On 6 March 2018 a major fire broke out in the No.3 forward cargo hold of Maersk Honam while the vessel was in the Arabian Sea about 900 nautical miles (1,700 km; 1,000 mi) southeast of Salalah, Oman, en route from Singapore to Suez. It took more than 3 days to get the fire under control and the ship continued to burn for several more weeks. The ship was salvaged and the damaged parts of the vessel were rebuilt.

Maersk received the 'Best Shipping Company' award from Trade Finance Global in 2019, highlighting its excellence in the shipping industry.

Maersk confirms that the incident has been contained.

Maersk sets out recovery actions and priorities to address the incident.

Maersk confirms that Maersk Line is able to take bookings.

Maersk expects to resume 'close to normal' operations by July 3, following recovery actions and priorities set out after an incident on June 27.

On 21 December 2021, the container ship Maersk Roubaix suffered from engine issues and became adrift in the Mediterranean 370 kilometres from Malta, while it was en route to the port of Algeciras in Spain. A tugboat was dispatched to assist.

On 2 February 2022, container ship Mumbai Maersk ran aground near the Port of Bremerhaven in Germany. A first attempt to tow the container ship into deeper water using two multi-purpose vessels and five tugboats failed. On 4 February, the ship was refloated with the help of eight tugboats. A vessel assessment was done when she arrived at the Port of Bremerhaven.

On 25 January 2023, A. P. Moller – Maersk and MSC announced the termination of the 2M Alliance in January 2025, signifying a major shift in the collaboration and operations of the two shipping lines.

The A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S forum is scheduled to take place in 2024.