Shipping impacts the world in many positive ways by enabling trade around the world, But despite all the positive impacts, you also have negative impacts, especially environmental impacts, CNBC quoted as Mads Stensen, global sustainability manager at Maersk saying.
With about 50,000 merchant ships trading across the seas, the shipping industry is responsible "for the carriage of around 90 percent of world trade," according to the International Chamber of Shipping.
In 2012, international shipping was responsible for 796 million tonnes of CO2 emissions – around 2.2 percent of global emissions – according to the International Maritime Organization.
The manufacturers are looking at ways to mitigate the environmental impact of big ships- as well as make savings.
One idea being looked at is adding a "scrubber" – an exhaust gas cleaning system – to the huge engines that power the vessels. The system can remove, for example, sulphur emissions from the exhaust gas, Stensen said.
Stensen went on to add that Maersk was looking to modify and update its fleet to help boost its efficiency and sustainability.
Other innovations taking place in the industry are looking to the past for inspiration. Last year CNBC spoke to SkySails, a German company that says it has developed a "kite wind propulsion" system for large cargo ships.