German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has secured green financing for its fleet expansion involving 24 new container vessels.
The ships feature a combined capacity of 312,000 twenty-foot equivalent (TEU) and represent an investment of approximately $4bn.
The financing package for the new builds includes $900m in the company's funds, $500m from bilateral mortgage loans, $1.8bn via leasing structures, and a Sinosure-backed syndicated credit facility that will contribute $1.1bn.
The financing share equates to 80% of the investment with maturities spanning ten to 18 years.
The green financing aligns with Hapag-Lloyd’s Green Financing Framework and meets the standards set by the Loan Market Association's Green Loan Principles, according to the company.
The framework and the compliance of the ships’ “efficiency” with the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities have been independently verified by DNV, an international classification society.
Hapag-Lloyd CFO/CPO Mark Frese said: “We are continuously modernising our fleet in order to deliver a high quality of service and to achieve our ambitious decarbonisation goals.
“The successful conclusion of several attractive financial transactions confirms that green financing components are becoming increasingly important.”
In line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5° target, Hapag-Lloyd aims to reduce its fleet’s absolute greenhouse gas emissions by one-third by 2030 compared to 2022 levels, progressing towards a net-zero operation by 2045.
To be built in China, the new ships will feature advanced, low-emission dual-fuel engines and the potential to use biomethane, cutting CO₂e emissions by up to 95%, according to Hapag-Lloyd.
The vessels will also be ready to operate on ammonia, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029.
Earlier this week, Maersk, part of AP Moller–Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd launched the Gemini Cooperation partnership.
This collaboration aims to offer a flexible, interconnected ocean network, targeting a schedule reliability of more than 90% once fully operational.
