After a successful stay at the Denmark Pavilion at the Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, the famous statue of The Little Mermaid is right now being prepared for the long journey back to the homeland of her and her "father" – the Danish author and poet Hans Christian Andersen. His renowned fairytales – including that of "The Little Mermaid"- have been translated into more than 150 languages and enjoyed all over the world by children and adults alike.

However, even for a mermaid, the swim from Shanghai to Copenhagen is too long. Therefore the Danish authorities have put Damco - a global logistics service provider and an independent part of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group - in charge of the logistic challenge of transporting this national treasure back home.

Damco also secured her safe arrival in China more than six months ago. For The Little Mermaid, this was her very first journey away from her home town of Copenhagen, Denmark, since she was placed on her waterfront stone almost 100 years ago - in August 1913.

During her stay in Shanghai, The Little Mermaid has been the center of attention for the more than 5.5 million visitors - equal to the present population of Denmark. At Expo 2010 they have had the rare opportunity of seeing the small fairytale figure of bronze, far away from her home.

"We are very pleased to have been chosen to transport this valuable sculpture to the Expo in China and back again to Denmark. We have taken every precaution to secure her safe arrival in Denmark as we do with every job a customer gives us," said CEO Rolf Habben-Jansen, Chief Executive Officer, Damco.