Denmark-based shipping line Maersk has become the first shipping line to have ship-by-ship CO2 emissions data independently verified by classification company Lloyd's Register.

"Maersk Line is to be congratulated for taking the lead in promoting transparency and credibility with regard to carbon emissions," said Madlen King, Head of Climate Change and Sustainability at Lloyd's Register.

The carrier aims to make independent verification an industry standard by encouraging other shipping lines to participate.

Lloyd??s Register checked whether the CO2 emissions calculated in 2009 corresponded with what auditors could find in the vessel reporting system at Maersk Line's headquarters.

This was backed up by an onboard audit which checked whether the Maersk Clementine's logs, going back over time, corresponded correctly with the information in the reporting system.