ZeroNorth and Hapag-Lloyd shake hands on bunker digitalization

Denmark-based technology company ZeroNorth and German container shipping major Hapag-Lloyd have forged a new strategic partnership focused on launching a bunker procurement and planning solution and setting the new industry standard for digitalizing the end-to-end bunker planning and procurement process.

Through this partnership, the two companies will work on creating a new digital solution that enables Hapag-Lloyd to effectively navigate the energy transition, reduce its fuel spend, and cut its cost to serve.

According to ZeroNorth, the solution aims to set the new industry standard for digitalizing the end-to-end bunker planning and procurement process by offering a brand new and enhanced user experience and new features such as streamlined contract and port planning, contract tender capabilities, a true price algorithm and more.

The company added that, for customers, this solution is available and is ready to be rolled out immediately.

“We are excited about this impactful partnership with Hapag-Lloyd, which will see us leverage the extensive knowledge and ambition between our two organisations with the aim of transforming the way companies approach bunker planning and procurement during the energy transition,” said Kenneth Juhls, Managing Director of ZeroNorth Bunker.

Jan Christensen, Senior Director Global Fuel Purchasing, Hapag-Lloyd, commented: “We have a clear strategic direction to advance decarbonisation across our fleet and across our business. To do this, we need to find the right partners – and we believe that ZeroNorth is perfectly placed to enable us to digitalise our bunker procurement and planning activity.

“ZeroNorth has strong domain expertise, a proven track record of success in developing and operating industry-leading solutions, and a credible vision for the future of the bunkering industry. Together, we believe that we’ll be able to meaningfully impact how we plan and buy our bunker fuel – by far the single largest lever that we can pull in service of our decarbonisation ambitions.”

The ZeroNorth – Hapag-Lloyd partnership comes amidst the continued digitalization of the bunker market, with advances in technology and increasing amounts of data targetting transparent and accountable bunker procurement decision-making.

One such example is ZeroNorth’s deal with Vitol Bunkers and its logistics arm, V-bunkers to enhance the efficiency of the bunkering process in Singapore through digitalization.

The Danish company also recently completed a merger with Singapore’s software developer Alpha Ori Technologies. By fully integrating Alpha Ori Technologies’ high-frequency data and expertise in IoT sensors, ZeroNorth said it will streamline resource management, predict maintenance, monitor hull performance, optimize voyages, digitalize bunker operations, track and report emissions, and enable stronger vessel selection decisions for its customers.