Danish business conglomerate Maersk has begun to freshen the air over Asia by switching the fuel they use for their ships to a cleaner alternative. Maersk Line vessels began using a low-sulfur fuel in engines while they are docked in Hong Kong. This environmentally friendly move made Maersk the first company to voluntarily switch their fuel in Asia. “By switching from bunker to cleaner fuel at berth, we significantly reduce emissions of sulfur to the air,” says Tim Smith, Chief Executive of Maersk Line’s North Asia Region. Every year, Maersk Line ports into Hong Kong about 850 times which can create bleak, grey skies. Switching from bunker fuel used at high sea to low-sulfur fuel will reduce emissions by almost 80 percent. The process in Hong Kong will come with an added cost of about $1 million annually. Despite the cost, it’s a step in a positive direction. Prior experiences in California and Houston led Maersk to believe they can switch in Hong Kong. Local business NGO Civic Exchange aided the switch when they explored the possibility of a fuel switch. The change is a breath of fresh air for one of the largest shipping markets in the world, and Hong Kong is only the beginning to help correct a problem impacting ports worldwide. “By engaging in a voluntary fuel switches in Hong Kong and elsewhere, we want to demonstrate that it is a way to quickly reduce sulfur emissions without technical difficulties,” said Morten Engelstoft, Chief Operating Officer in Maersk Line. The actual fuel switch took place on September 5, and with time, long-term changes will benefit the region for future generations.