Maersk Taps HP for IT Outsourcing, Private Cloud

Maersk Line, the largest global shipping company, has signed a $150 million-plus infrastructure services agreement to outsource its technology infrastructure to Hewlett-Packard Denmark, the companies announced today.

The five-year agreement call for HP to create a private cloud computing environment for Maersk's distributed and local applications using HP Cloud Computing Solutions. In addition, HP will take over the Service Desk function at Maersk Line and maintain the company's computing devices, such as desktop and notebook PCs, for almost 38,000 users in more than 100 countries. As part of the agreement, HP will offer employment to all Maersk Line staff within these areas.

"As a global leader in its industry, Maersk Line is driving significant change in its markets and needs a reliable technology foundation to support these efforts," said Mike Nefkens, senior VP and GM of HP Enterprise Services for EMEA. "To help achieve the company's global strategy, HP will apply its cloud computing expertise and experience in managing complex technology environments enabling internal IT leaders to expand support."

"Maersk Line operates in a competitive global industry that demands innovation to create the agile technology infrastructure we need to be a leader among our peers," said Adam Gade, chief information officer, Maersk Line. "HP's global scope combined with its proven expertise in standardizing technology across large enterprises will help us deliver greater value to our business and support our ability to remain the world's most reliable container shipping company."

Maersk Line is the global containerized division of the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group. HP didn't indicate whether its IT solutions forMaersk Line would include any containerized data centers such as HP's POD (Performance Optimized Datacenter). HP currently supplies Maersk Line other technology and support services as well as hardware, such as servers, storage, networking equipment and PCs.