A.P. Moller-Maersk has successfully bunkered its dual-fuel containership, the Tangier Maersk, with 100% U.S.-produced corn ethanol, marking a significant milestone as the first ship-to-ship commercial ethanol bunkering for deep-sea container vessels in the U.S. This operation, conducted in Houston, was facilitated by bioethanol producer POET, highlighting it as the first U.S. marine bunkering using entirely bioethanol.
For Maersk, this initiative represents an opportunity to explore alternative fuel options for its expanding fleet of alcohol-capable ships rather than a firm commitment to ethanol as a primary fuel source. The company aims to gain practical insights into the necessary infrastructure, sourcing, handling, and supply-chain elements essential for large-scale ethanol use in shipping. While ethanol has an established production and distribution framework, Maersk notes that broader adoption will hinge on factors such as fuel availability and regulatory environments.
The Houston bunkering follows prior tests with ethanol aboard other vessels, including the Laura Maersk. Maersk’s exploration of ethanol is part of a broader strategy that initially focused on methanol, now expanding to include a diverse mix of alternative fuels like biomethane while also considering ammonia. The company maintains that this recent ethanol trial does not indicate a departure from methanol; rather, Maersk emphasizes the importance of having multiple fuel options amidst uncertainties in future fuel supplies and global emissions regulations.
