Voyage optimisation and weather intelligence solutions provider StormGeo on Thursday (6 March) shared how it is supporting Hapag-Lloyd’s sustainability journey with its s-Log and s-Insight digital solutions to comply with the new FuelEU Maritime regulation.

The following is an excerpt of the article: 

As the shipping industry continues its journey towards a decarbonized future with the new FuelEU Maritime regulation, Hapag-Lloyd relies on StormGeo’s future-proof digital solutions and services to stay compliant and achieve its long-term sustainability goals.

Operating around 300 container ships with a total transport capacity of more than 2.3 million TEU, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s most prominent and leading liner shipping companies – and the largest fleet sailing under the German flag.

In addition to being one of the largest in the industry, Hapag-Lloyd is also one of the greenest. The company was the first to ever convert a large container ship to dual-fuel propulsion capable of using LNG and by end of 2025 will have a fleet of 13 LNG dual-fuel vessels in operation, thereby reducing CO2 emissions significantly. Furthermore, up to 50 of their ships already run on biofuels, such as bio-LNG and FAME, capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fuels.

Navigating FuelEU Maritime Compliance

With these sustainability initiatives, Hapag-Lloyd has taken crucial steps toward compliance with the FuelEU Maritime regulation that came into effect on January 1st, 2025. This EU-driven initiative dictates that shipping companies must decarbonize their operations by reducing the GHG intensity of their vessels and increasing the use of sustainable fuels, such as biofuels, green methanol, ammonia and others.

To become fully compliant, Hapag-Lloyd demands a robust biofuel-compliant reporting system that can efficiently align biofuel consumption data with the specific demands outlined in the new regulation.

With these 300 vessels requiring proper data reporting, validation, and verification by their emission verifier DNV, Hapag-Lloyd relies on StormGeo’s s-Log and s-Insight solutions to accurately monitor, report, and validate GHG intensity for FuelEU Maritime compliance and all other GHG emission reduction schemes (EU ETS, CII, MRV, IMO DCS, CCWG, and ESI).

“It’s crucial for us to work with partners like StormGeo, who share our commitment to drive the shipping industry toward a more sustainable future,” says Heribert Riesenhuber, Director Fleet Energy Management at Hapag-Lloyd Hamburg Head Office. “Our decade-long partnership has yielded great solutions for environmental compliance that have benefited not only us but the industry at large, and we’re excited to continue our work with StormGeo to advance our decarbonization goals and tackle new reporting requirements, such as FuelEU Maritime.”

The Role of Digital Tools in Shipping Decarbonization

Hapag-Lloyd leverages a comprehensive solution for the entire FuelEU Maritime compliance process, enabled by StormGeo’s ship-to-shore data reporting system s-Log to easily accommodate biofuel reporting in anticipation of the new regulation – in addition to the data validation system s-Insight and direct access to regulatory and industry experts.

With these solutions, Hapag-Lloyd can accurately calculate the GHG intensity of biofuels used across its fleet according to the specific requirements of the FuelEU Maritime regulation.

The data reporting system collects all fuel consumption data, including biofuels, and runs strict validation rules to identify and flag any reporting errors, improve data quality, and increase accuracy. The validated consumption data is then calculated into GHG intensity data, which can automatically be shared with all major emission verifiers globally, including DNV, through APIs.

Through its Hamburg-based Fleet Performance Center, StormGeo’s experts are available to support Hapag-Lloyd throughout the entire process, including proactive discussions with verifiers.

“Our collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd is an example of the power of partnerships in the decarbonization of the shipping industry,” says Till Braun, Strategic Account Manager and Sales Director at StormGeo. “Sustainable maritime operations require close collaboration between different industry players, and we’re excited to work with and learn from Hapag-Lloyd and their partners to simplify compliance and enable proactive sustainable strategies for the benefit of the industry as a whole.”

Note: The full story on how StormGeo is supporting Hapag-Lloyd’s sustainability journey can be found here.

Photo credit: Hapag-Lloyd
Published: 7 March, 2025

Classification society DNV on Tuesday (4 March) launched its latest report that provides a comprehensive overview of more than 40 energy-efficiency measures, detailing their fuel-saving effects, cost figures, and suitability for specific ship types.

The report, titled Energy-efficiency measures and technologies – Key solutions and strategies for Maritime’s decarbonization journey, highlighted how these measures can help shipowners meet short- and mid-term regulatory requirements, gain a competitive edge, and ensure profitable operations well into the 2030s and 2040s.

“With increasing regulatory pressure and rising fuel costs, the shipping industry must accelerate decarbonization while ensuring operational and economic viability,” DNV said.

“Energy-efficiency measures can play a crucial role in reducing fuel consumption and facilitating the transition to alternative fuels as they become available.”

“To help shipowners identify the best solutions for their fleet, DNV has published a report offering a comprehensive overview of currently available energy-efficiency measures and technologies.”

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO at DNV Maritime, said: “The decarbonization of shipping is one of our greatest challenges. While transitioning to carbon-neutral fuels is essential, supply and cost remain key barriers. 

To accelerate this shift, all possible measures must be explored. Energy-efficiency measures can not only cut emissions in the short term but also support the adoption of alternative fuels by reducing overall fuel demand and operational costs. With many such measures available, our report aims to help stakeholders navigate these choices and identify the best solutions for their fleets.”

In the report, DNV explored a wide range of technical and operational measures, detailing cost considerations, suitability for different ship types, and the challenges of combining multiple solutions effectively. Digitalization also plays an important role, and the report offers insights into how data-driven decision-making can enhance fuel savings, while ensuring cybersecurity remains a priority.

DNV’s report outlined a three-step approach for managing decarbonization risks: defining greenhouse gas (GHG) trajectory and goals, assessing pathways for meeting these goals, and developing a fleet decarbonization strategy and plan. It also explores other solutions such as low-carbon and carbon-neutral fuels, biofuels, onboard carbon capture, fuel cells, and nuclear propulsion, evaluating their benefits, challenges, and emissions reduction potential.

Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonization Director at DNV Maritime, said: “Energy efficiency is key to reducing emissions and enabling low-carbon fuel adoption. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, improving onboard efficiency reduces emissions in the short term and accelerates low-carbon fuel adoption in the long term.”

“Every percentage of fuel saved, whether conventional or alternative, translates into significant cost savings. Energy efficieny is becoming critical, and the industry must raise awareness, gain knowledge, and plan ahead.”

Note: A free copy of the report can be found here.

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 5 March, 2025

Technology company ZeroNorth on Thursday (30 February) said it achieved its first month of positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) in December 2024, after four and a half years since its launch. 

The firm said the achievement comes on the back of significant growth, with the company reaching just under USD 40 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) for the year, a 38% increase from 2023.

“This marks an important milestone for ZeroNorth, particularly at a time when rising interest rates have put increasing pressure on startups and scaleups to prioritise financial sustainability over top-line growth. Despite the challenging economic climate, ZeroNorth has managed to balance growth and profitability, showing its ability to adapt to changing financial conditions,” the company said.

Founded in 2020, ZeroNorth has rapidly become a leader in the maritime industry’s digital transformation, helping more than 230 shipping and energy companies navigate the energy transition with solutions that optimise fuel consumption and reduce emissions. 

ZeroNorth has scaled from a team of six to 600 employees across 10 global locations and completed six strategic acquisitions, including joining forces with Singapore-based Alpha Ori Technologies in February 2024. 

Powered by AI-driven technologies developed in-house, the company has built a unified platform with a significant impact on sustainability and efficiency for customers. In 2024 alone, it optimised 72,000 voyage legs by generating 1.5 million routes, reducing more than one million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions.

ZeroNorth expects to achieve positive EBITDA for the full year 2025, while continuing to execute its growth strategy.

Søren Meyer, CEO of ZeroNorth, said: “Achieving operating profit is an important milestone for ZeroNorth and a reflection of the dedication of our team and the trust of our customers. Reaching this point highlights our ability to build a sustainable business model while scaling rapidly.” 

“More importantly, it reflects the critical role of data and technology as the shipping industry tackles the complexities of the energy transition.”

“With this foundation, we are strongly positioned to accelerate our growth, and continue to enable our customers to make informed decisions, boost efficiency and cut emissions.”

Related: ZeroNorth and Singapore-based Alpha Ori Technologies close deal to merge

Photo credit: ZeroNorth
Published: 4 February, 2025