IKEA- and Amazon-backed tender picks container lines to run on hydrogen e-fuels

The Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) has announced it is deploying two categories of scalable e-fuels in container shipping. 

This effort will enable participating member companies, including cofounders Amazon, Patagonia and Tchibo, and members including Beiersdorf, Brooks Running, Green Worldwide Shipping, IKEA, Nike, Poly Medicure Ltd and Sport-Thieme to deploy e-fuels on an initial 20Bn tonne nautical miles of transport activity over three years, with some members extending to five years. 

This results in approximately 120,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions abated, starting in 2027. Contracting is ongoing, and ZEMBA welcomes additional freight buyers to reach out through its website. 

Through these deployments, Hapag-Lloyd will deploy e-methanol on large methanol dual-fuel container ships on a trans-oceanic lane; and North Sea Container Line (NCL) will deploy the world’s first e-ammonia-powered container ship, serving a northern European trade lane.  

Both fuels will be made with low-carbon hydrogen produced with renewable energy and will deliver a carbon intensity reduction of at least 90% on a lifecycle basis relative to conventional high-emissions fuel.  

“We applaud Hapag-Lloyd and North Sea Container Line’s leadership, collaboration and innovation, as well as the quality of their offerings in response to ZEMBA’s pioneering market signal,” said ZEMBA chief executive and president Ingrid Irigoyen. “This voluntary private sector initiative remains on track to invest in rapid on-the-water deployment of vastly scalable, next-generation maritime fuels.”  

“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 greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a greener future for global shipping,” said Hapag-Lloyd chief executive Rolf Habben Jansen.

“We are proud to be awarded, together with Hapag-Lloyd, the ZEMBA tender, reaffirming NCL’s commitment to shaping the future of sustainable logistics,” said NCL chief executive Bente Hetland. “With a dedicated product for ZEMBA’s members who are ready to drive real change, NCL will continue to push the transition towards next-generation maritime fuels.” 

Following ZEMBA’s inaugural tender in 2024, ZEMBA said its second procurement focused on kickstarting a new market for scalable, low-carbon hydrogen-derived e-fuels that will be “essential to achieve an economically viable whole-of-sector maritime clean energy transition”.  

ZEMBA continues its close working partnership for this second tender with Katalist, the first nonprofit maritime book and claim system, hosted by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping and RMI.  

ZEMBA will finalise the full measurable impact of its second tender in 2026, and will announce future rounds of procurements as the initiative continues to garner success.