- 86 Billion Tonne Nautical Miles of E-Fuel Shipping Demand Aggregated.
- ZEMBA’s Tender Aims to Cut 500,000 Metric Tonnes of GHG Emissions.
- Bidders Must Demonstrate a 90% Emission Reduction for Qualification.
Washington, DC, 25 February 2025 – ZEMBA has released the call for bids for its shipping tender targeted at e-fuel. ZEMBA wants to pool in about 86 billion tonne nautical miles of e-fuel-powered shipping demand for abatement of emissions that will deploy from 2027. The quantity is tantamount to hauling 1.5 million twenty-foot containers by ship across the Pacific Ocean and taking Shanghai to Los Angeles as a reference route, reports Aspen Institute.
Substantial Emissions Reduction Focused
Organized by the Aspen Institute, ZEMBA’s tender will allow its more than 40 member companies to collectively cut around 500,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The ultimate effect will be contingent on the specifics of the chosen commercial agreements.
A Landmark Step for E-Fuel Adoption
Ingrid Irigoyen, President and CEO of ZEMBA, emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating: “Getting e-fuel-powered shipping on the water for the first time through this collaborative forward procurement will be a huge technical and commercial innovation milestone for the sector. We look forward to receiving bids from container carriers ready to partner with ZEMBA and our freight buyer members to make maritime history.”
Tender Specifications and Bid Requirements
Containership carriers or consortia are required to bid for e-fuel-powered shipping services for a 3-5 year contract term starting approximately 2027. All bids are required to achieve at least a 90% lifecycle emission reduction over primary propulsion against high-emission fuel baselines.
After proper vetting and commercial negotiations, the best-performing proposal(s) shall be awarded to ZEMBA by following competitive due processes. Awards to several winners will not be discouraged by the institution. Publication of results from the second tender shall occur no later than end-2025.
Building on Previous Success
ZEMBA’s move towards e-fuels in this tender is due to lessons learnt when it issued its first tender in April 2024. It collected responses from its members as well as ran a request for information in 2025 while closely collaborating with the Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub.
In its initial tender, international carrier Hapag-Lloyd was the successful bidder, contracting to assist ZEMBA members in collectively reduce at least 82,000 metric tonnes of CO₂e in 2025 and 2026. This new tender extends that precedent, increasing the footprint of e-fuel uptake in shipping.
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Source: Aspen Institute
