For many folks, 2016 has been a year to forget, and the shipping industry is no exception. But looking ahead, A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S is determined to put a positive spin on things — maybe too positive.

Global shipping giant A/S Maersk Line of Denmark on Dec. 1 announced plans to grow its business by buying German rival Hamburg Süd, the world's seventh largest container shipper.

A.P. Møller-Maersk A/S, owner of the world’s largest container line, reported a 43% decline in third-quarter profit as the shipping industry continues to suffer from overcapacity.

It's hard to think of two more challenged industries than oil and shipping. AP Moller-Maersk A/S's misfortune is to be heavily involved in both. Investors were starting to hope the worst was over.

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, owner of the world’s largest container line, said mergers such as the combination of its three main Japanese rivals provide relief to an ailing industry that has been characterized by overcapacity.

South Africa’s Competition Commission searched the premises of six shipping companies, including AP Moeller-Maersk A/S, as part of an investigation into allegations that they colluded to fix incremental cargo rates between Asia and South Africa.

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S’s container line, which this month ditched a strategy of building new vessels and will instead try to grow through acquisitions, is targeting South Korea’s two biggest shipping firms, according to Jefferies International Ltd.

The owner of the world’s largest container shipping line will stop ordering newly built vessels and instead pursue takeovers in an industry that has been plagued by overcapacity for almost a decade.

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S will split into separate transport and energy businesses as Denmark’s biggest company moves ahead with an historic shake-up of the conglomerate.

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S said it's still considering several options in its strategic review after a local newspaper reported that the Danish conglomerate was exploring a two-way split into an energy and a transport company.