By: Ellen Lengkeek You will suddenly see it coming at you. The pink-colored Japanese container ship ONE innovation calls at the port of Rotterdam during her maiden trip. The 400 meter long monster ship is stowed on the outside with magenta colored containers to draw attention to sustainable innovations on board. ONE Innovation is the first of a series of Megamax ships built this year for the Japanese shipping company Ocean Network Express (ONE). The ship can carry around 24,000 sea containers. It sails more sustainably because the hull has been modified with a bow wind deflector, which means that less fuel is needed. A new cleaning system has been designed for exhaust gases. This is necessary in order to comply with the IMO emission regulations. The shipping company is building another five of these ships. “We are actively working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our fleet, and we are confident that this vessel will contribute to this effort and bring innovation to global logistics,” said Yu Kurimoto, director at ONE. "We want to achieve net zero emissions by 2050." Pink for luck Although you would rather expect the color green to be sustainable, pink was deliberately chosen by the Japanese. The color symbolizes happiness. Japanese people go out en masse to admire ornamental cherries in bloom during Hanami Matsuri in the spring. With this party a prosperous period is ushered in. ONE was founded in 2017 by three Japanese shipping companies and is headquartered in Singapore. It sails to 120 countries with 200 ships. In Rotterdam, it will moor at the RWG terminal in the Amaliahaven on Tuesday 11 July at the end of the morning. Forced reduction of CO2 emissions The highly polluting container shipping worldwide is faced with the task of sailing in a cleaner way, in accordance with rules drawn up by, among others, the IMO, the International Maritime Organization and European climate laws. Brussels hopes that in the year 2050 international shipping will emit 80 percent less CO₂. In Europe, seagoing vessels will also pay for CO2 emissions from 2026.