Hapag-Lloyd has signed a multi-year deal with Shell Western LNG B.V. for the supply of liquefied biomethane (Bio-LNG), marking a further step in the shipping line’s decarbonisation strategy.
The agreement builds on a partnership formed in 2023 to advance the use of alternative marine fuels. Under the deal, Hapag-Lloyd will begin sourcing Bio-LNG immediately through Shell’s global bunkering network, which has expanded since 2024 to offer the fuel at 22 locations worldwide.
Bio-LNG, produced from organic waste such as crop residues, livestock manure and food waste, enables significant emissions reductions and can be used directly in LNG dual-fuel vessels without equipment modifications. The fuel supplied under the agreement is ISCC EU certified, ensuring sustainability of feedstock, supply chain traceability and verified lifecycle emissions reductions.
Jan Christensen, Hapag-Lloyd’s Senior Director for Global Fuel Purchasing, said the agreement would provide “fuel certainty and supply reliability” as the company works towards net-zero fleet operations by 2045. “True leadership in shipping means acting now – using lower-emission fuels already available today and not waiting for future solutions,” he said.
Shell’s Vice President for Global Downstream LNG, Dexter Belmar, added: “Bio-LNG is no longer a concept – it’s here, and it’s fuelling the next chapter of shipping decarbonisation. These long-term deals help build the confidence needed to scale renewable fuels.”
The move underlines the growing role of waste-based renewable fuels in decarbonising the maritime sector, offering shipping companies a near-term pathway to cut emissions while preparing for longer-term solutions.
