A Game-Changer for Maritime Emissions
The Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) is shaking up the shipping industry with its latest e-fuel-focused tender. This ambitious initiative aims to aggregate demand for approximately 86 billion tonne nautical miles of emissions abatement, paving the way for e-fuel-powered shipping to hit the waters by 2027. By enabling its member companies to slash an estimated 500,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ZEMBA is setting a new standard for sustainable maritime transport.
What Makes a Winning Bid?
ZEMBA’s tender is no ordinary procurement process. To qualify, bids must come from containership carriers or consortia proposing e-fuel-powered shipping solutions for 3-5 years, starting around 2027. The catch? Each bid must demonstrate at least a 90% lifecycle emission reduction compared to traditional high-emission fuels. After a rigorous vetting process and commercial negotiations, ZEMBA will select the best proposals, with the potential for multiple winners. Results are expected by the end of 2025, and a pre-qualification process has been introduced to ensure only the most innovative and capable bidders make the cut.
A Milestone for Maritime Innovation
Ingrid Irigoyen, President and CEO of ZEMBA, describes this initiative as a “huge technical and commercial innovation milestone” for the shipping sector. “Getting e-fuel-powered shipping on the water for the first time through this collaborative forward procurement will be transformative,” she says. ZEMBA’s focus on e-fuels builds on the success of its inaugural tender in April 2024, which saw German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd emerge as the winner. With over 40 member companies now on board, ZEMBA is doubling down on its mission to decarbonize maritime transport.
This tender isn’t just about reducing emissions—it’s about rewriting the rules of global shipping. By fostering collaboration between freight buyers and carriers, ZEMBA is proving that a cleaner, greener future for the industry is not only possible but within reach.
