Hapag-Lloyd successfully bunkers bio-methane

In the Netherlands, Hapag-Lloyd has reached significant milestones in its efforts to decarbonize the shipping industry under the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) initiative. The company successfully completed its bio-methane bunkering operations, marking a major step toward the company’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero fleet operations by 2045.

In March 2025, Hapag-Lloyd’s Hanoi Express vessel successfully bunkered 1,800 metric tons of bio-methane in Rotterdam, generating the first Sustainable Marine Fuel Certificates (SMFc) under the ZEMBA initiative. This was quickly followed by another breakthrough on the Rotterdam Express, which bunkered 3,000 metric tons of bio-methane in Wilhelmshaven, marking the first-ever supply of this renewable fuel at the terminal.

Both the Hanoi Express and Rotterdam Express are part of a new class of 12 dual-fuel vessels designed to run on LNG and are ready to operate on alternative fuels, such as bio-methane and e-methane. These ships are crucial in Hapag-Lloyd’s transition to a greener, more sustainable future while maintaining high operational efficiency.