Hapag-Lloyd and Kuehne+Nagel have agreed on their first joint emission-reduced ocean transport arrangement using sustainable marine fuels (SMF).

The logistics provider will use Hapag-Lloyd’s Ship Green product for ocean freight shipments on the East Asia to North Europe trade lane between April and December 2026.

The pilot covers around 3,300 TEU of cargo and is expected to avoid about 2,979 tonnes of CO₂e on a well-to-wake basis through certified waste- and residue-based biofuels.

Around 1,000 tonnes of RED III-compliant, waste-based SMF will be used under the initiative.

Danny Smolders, managing director global sales at Hapag-Lloyd, said: “We are proud to take our partnership with Kuehne+Nagel to the next level. With Ship Green, we offer a scalable solution that enables our customers to actively reduce their Scope 3 emissions today. This agreement shows how strong partnerships can translate into tangible climate impact.”

Paolo Montrone, head of trade global sea logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, added: “Decarbonising shipping requires transparency, collaboration and commercially viable solutions. By having strong partnerships, making emissions data transparent, and enabling scope 3 reductions, we help customers navigate in a credible, market-based way, designed to accelerate the uptake of alternative fuels. We are pleased to extend our collaboration with Hapag Lloyd to make this come true.”

The arrangement uses a book-and-claim chain-of-custody mechanism, allowing verified reductions to be allocated without linking the physical fuel to specific ships or routes.

Hapag-Lloyd will credit Kuehne+Nagel only with reductions generated from biofuel used within its operated fleet.

The container line aims to reach net-zero fleet operations by 2045, while Kuehne+Nagel has set a similar 2050 goal covering its full value chain.

Hapag-Lloyd is a Hamburg-headquartered container line with liner shipping, terminal and infrastructure activities. Its network connects more than 600 ports worldwide, and the carrier also has equity stakes in terminals in Europe, Latin America, the United States, India and North Africa.

Kuehne+Nagel is a Switzerland-headquartered logistics group offering sea, air, road and contract services, with a focus on supply chain solutions for global businesses.