MAERSK Line has published a denial that its ship, the Emma Maersk, has been shipping contraband scrap and waste material banned for shipment from Europe to China.

But the company explained that it does carry waste paper, metal scrap and other recyclable materials to China, adding that other shipping lines do the same. The Danish shipping giant - the world's largest - pledged full co-operation with any investigation undertaken by authorities to clear allegations that its activities violate the law.

The shipping line added that since the world's largest containership Emma Maersk first called at Chinese ports, it has shipped 7,500 tons of recyclables to China, not 170,000-200,000 tons as alleged.