ALEXANDRIA, VA, August 24, 2010 - IRTA named Maersk Line as the recipient of the International Refrigerated Transportation Association (IRTA) Executive of the Year award on 8 June 2010 as part of the AFFI-GCCA Food Logistics Forum in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA.

This annual award recognizes an individual in the refrigerated transportation industry who has made a significant contribution to the industry by fostering innovation, resolving industry issues, or improving the industry's image and efficiency.

Typically, the award is presented to an individual, but, this year, for the first time ever, the IRTA Board of Directors elected to recognize an entire company — Maersk Line — for excellence in refrigerated transportation.

Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Maersk Line is a steamship line that exemplifies innovation and is changing the way we think about marine shipping. Their fleet comprises more than 500 vessels and containers corresponding to more than1,900,000 TEUs. With about 325 offices located in more than 125 countries, it serves customers around the world.

Maersk Line serves as an example of sustainability in marine shipping. The company continuously works to reduce fuel consumption and emission of greenhouse gases from its vessels. By focusing on engine design, optimization of ventilation systems, efficient hull and propeller maintenance, and research projects involving the application of fuel cells and alternative energy sources, the company has already dramatically reduced its carbon footprint in just the last decade.

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IRTA (www.irta.org) is a Core Partner of the Global Cold Chain Alliance, which represents all major industries engaged in temperature-controlled logistics. GCCA unites partners to be innovative leaders in the temperature-controlled products industry. For more information about GCCA, visit www.gcca.org.

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