Hapag-Lloyd and Kuehne+Nagel have agreed to collaborate on the use of sustainable marine fuels for ocean freight, as reported by Athens' Safety4Sea. This partnership marks a significant step forward in the shipping industry's decarbonisation efforts.

Under the agreement, which runs from April to December 2026, approximately 3,300 TEU of cargo on the East Asia-North Europe trade lane will be transported using certified waste- and residue-based sustainable marine fuels. This initiative is expected to reduce emissions by around 2,979 tonnes of CO2 on a well-to-wake basis.

Kuehne+Nagel will also utilize Hapag-Lloyd's 'Ship Green' product to further lower the carbon footprint of its shipments. The collaboration is based on a book-and-claim chain-of-custody mechanism, allowing customers to claim verified emission reductions regardless of the physical fuel allocation.

Danny Smolders, Hapag-Lloyd's sales director, stated that the agreement demonstrates how strong partnerships can deliver tangible climate impact.

This model enables scalable climate action by using waste-based biofuel as a bridge solution. Both companies emphasized that transparency, collaboration, and commercially viable solutions are essential to accelerate the uptake of alternative fuels and strengthen sustainable supply chains.