Hapag-Lloyd and Shell Western LNG BV (Shell) have signed a multi-year agreement for the supply of liquefied biomethane starting with immediate effect. Biomethane, also known as bio-LNG, plays a significant role in Hapag-Lloyd’s decarbonisation strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero fleet operations by 2045.
The agreement builds on a strategic collaboration established in 2023 to accelerate the decarbonisation of alternative marine fuels.
Since 2024, Shell has expanded its offering to include liquefied biomethane, which is now available at 22 strategic locations within its global LNG bunkering network.
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Fuel certainty and supply reliability
‘This agreement helps secure the fuel certainty and supply reliability we need to further expand the use of waste-based renewable fuels across our fleet – cutting emissions without compromising the quality and reliability our customers expect,’ says Jan Christensen, Senior Director Global Fuel Purchasing at Hapag-Lloyd AG. ‘Collaborations like this demonstrate that true leadership in shipping means acting now – using lower-emission fuels already available today and not waiting for future solutions.’
Dexter Belmar, Shell’s Vice President Global Downstream LNG: ‘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.’
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ISCC EU certified
The liquefied biomethane supplied to Hapag-Lloyd is ISCC EU certified, which ensures sustainability of the feedstock production, traceability of sustainable products through the supply chain, and credible, verified reductions of life cycle emissions.
Biomethane is a drop-in fuel that enables Hapag-Lloyd’s LNG dual-fuel vessels to transition seamlessly to renewable fuels without any equipment modifications. Derived from the decomposition of organic waste – such as crop residues, livestock manure and food waste – biogas is upgraded to biomethane by removing CO2 and impurities. The liquefied biomethane is then fed into the local gas grid, liquefied and supplied to ships on a mass-balanced basis.
Picture: The “Wilhelmshaven Express” is bunkering in Bremerhaven, Germany (photo by Hapag-Lloyd).
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