Big Boats to Carry the World's Goods: the High-Stakes Business of Container Shipping

Thomas Knudsen, CEO of Maersk Line Asia Pacific, talks about how the largest container ship operator and supply vessel operator in the world views global demand for moving goods, its cooling outlook for doing so and profit sustainability.

He also discusses shipping rates, competition, volume growth and efforts to maintain a steady market share.

He then talks of rate-dumping, earnings per container transported, its new order for 10 supersized ships (worth a total $2bn), what it will do for customers and cost savings, and how big a gamble this order is.

He also talks of Maerk's strategy if another global downturn occurs.

He also discusses his projections for global trade, how important Asia is to Maersk's business, how much Maersk is banking on the BRIC engine of growth, and the looming risks of high oil, inflation and geopolitical tensions.