Maersk Completes First US Ethanol Bunkering Operation
Maersk has successfully completed the first commercial ship-to-ship ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the US. The operation involved Tangier Maersk, a dual-fuel alcohol-enabled container ship that received 100% US-produced corn ethanol.
The bunker operation provided valuable insights into the infrastructure, sourcing, operations, and supply chain requirements associated with using ethanol as a marine fuel. As an established production base and existing infrastructure are already in place, ethanol is compatible with vessel technology. However, its potential use at scale will depend on fuel availability, regulation, and operational readiness across the maritime supply chain.
'Achieving lower-emission logistics requires turning new technologies into practical, scalable solutions,' said Ditlev Blicher, Regional President for North America at Maersk. 'This bunkering operation aboard Tangier Maersk provides valuable real-world experience with alternative fuels in commercial shipping.'