Hapag-Lloyd and the Chinese Port of Shenzhen entered into an agreement to cut sulphur oxide emissions. Under the agreement, Hapag-Lloyd has voluntarily undertaken only to use fuel with a sulphur content of less than 0.5% while its ships are docked at the terminal. In doing so, Hapag-Lloyd is increasing its existing efforts to improve air quality in port cities.

By joining the Shenzhen Port Green Convention, Hapag-Lloyd has once again demonstrated its commitment to environmental and health protection on a voluntary basis that goes beyond national and international requirements, thus emphasising how important this is to our Company, explained Hapag-Lloyd's Chief Operating Officer Anthony J. Firmin.

Hapag-Lloyd has already participated in various voluntary environmental protection programmes that promote the use of low-emission fuels while ships are in port. Past examples of these include the ˜At Berth Clean Fuels Program' in Seattle, the ˜Port Metro Vancouver Blue Circle Award' and the ˜Fair Winds Charter' in Hong Kong.

Outside of ports, Hapag-Lloyd also takes its responsibility for air quality protection seriously. For example, its vessels operate using fuel with an average sulphur content of only 2.1% when they are outside sea areas designated as Emission Control Areas (ECAs). This is significantly below the current limit of 3.5% specified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). When they are inside ECAs, Hapag-Lloyd's ships only use fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1%, as required.