Hapag-Lloyd and Shell Western LNG B.V. (Shell) have signed a multi-year agreement for the supply of liquefied biomethane with immediate effect. The agreement is based on a strategic collaboration established in 2023 to accelerate the decarbonization of alternative marine fuels.
Biomethane, also known as Bio-LNG, plays an important role in Hapag-Lloyd’s decarbonization strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero fleet operations by 2045, by enabling emission reductions across its entire fleet and supporting customers in their efforts to decarbonize their supply chains. Since 2024, Shell has expanded its offering to include liquefied biomethane, which is now available at 22 strategic locations within its global LNG supply network. “This agreement helps ensure the fuel security and supply reliability we need to continue expanding the use of renewable waste-based fuels across our fleet, reducing emissions without compromising the quality and reliability our customers expect. Collaborations like this demonstrate that true leadership in shipping means acting now, using low-emission fuels that are already available today and not waiting for future solutions,” said Jan Christensen, Senior Director of Global Fuel Purchasing at Hapag-Lloyd AG.
“Bio-LNG is no longer a concept, but a reality that is driving the next stage of shipping’s decarbonization. These long-term agreements help build the necessary confidence to scale up the use of renewable fuels.” The liquefied biomethane supplied to Hapag-Lloyd is ISCC EU certified, which guarantees the sustainability of the feedstock production, the traceability of sustainable products throughout the supply chain, and credible and verifiable emission reductions over the lifecycle.
Biomethane is a drop-in fuel that allows Hapag-Lloyd’s dual-fuel LNG vessels to seamlessly transition to renewable fuels without the need for equipment modifications. Derived from the decomposition of organic waste, such as agricultural waste, livestock manure, and food waste, biogas is transformed into biomethane through the removal of CO₂ and impurities. The liquefied biomethane is then injected into the local gas grid, liquefied, and supplied to ships on a mass-balance basis.
