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ZEMBA awards e-methanol shipping tender to Hapag-Lloyd

The Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) has named Hapag-Lloyd the winner of its second tender for ocean shipping using hydrogen-derived e-methanol.

Under the agreement, ZEMBA members will collectively abate at least 120,000 metric tonnes of CO2e over a minimum of three years, with Hapag-Lloyd providing the majority of the volumes.

Starting in 2027, Hapag-Lloyd will operate large dual-fuel methanol containerships on a transoceanic trade lane using e-methanol produced from renewable electricity–based hydrogen.

The fuel is expected to cut lifecycle emissions by at least 90 per cent compared with conventional marine fuels.

ZEMBA, a nonprofit buyers’ group with more than 45 members, including Amazon, IKEA, and Nike, aggregates demand to accelerate commercial-scale zero-emission shipping and enable emissions reductions beyond what individual buyers can achieve.

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Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, said: “At a time when sourcing scalable e-fuels remains a major challenge for the entire industry, winning the second ZEMBA tender is a significant milestone for us. Deploying e-methanol is an essential step in our journey to reach net-zero fleet operations by 2045.

“We are very grateful for the trust that all ZEMBA members have placed in our capabilities, and we remain fully committed to reducing GHG emissions and contributing to a greener future for global shipping.”

Ingrid Irigoyen, President and CEO of ZEMBA, added: “We applaud Hapag-Lloyd for their leadership and technical innovation in response to ZEMBA’s pioneering market signal. Through collaboration across the maritime value chain, this partnership will enable rapid on-the-water deployment of vastly scalable, next-generation maritime fuels.”

Following Hapag-Lloyd’s win in ZEMBA’s inaugural 2024 biomethane tender, this second award marks another step toward scaling zero- and near-zero-emission fuels in ocean shipping.

Recently, Hapag-Lloyd contracted Chinese shipbuilder CIMC Raffles to construct eight 4,500-TEU container vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029, in a deal worth more than $500 million.