Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has responded to criticism of its emissions record with a robust defence of its decarbonisation efforts.

The container line was ranked eighth this month by green lobby group Transport & Environment (T&E) on a list of the top 10 polluters in Europe.

The Swiss-based operator’s ships emitted 11m tonnes of CO2 last year on journeys to and from, or within, the European Union, T&E claimed.