Maersk Pioneers Ethanol Bunkering in US Shipping
A.P. Moller, Maersk has made history by completing the first ship-to-ship commercial ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the United States.
The operation involved Tangier Maersk, a dual-fuel alcohol-enabled container vessel, which was bunkered with 100% U.S.-produced corn ethanol. This move marks a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in the shipping industry.
Maersk's Regional President for North America, Ditlev Blicher, emphasized that this operation provided practical experience on the operational, infrastructure, sourcing, and supply chain requirements associated with using ethanol as a marine fuel.
The company noted that while ethanol benefits from an established production base and existing infrastructure, the scalability of future marine fuel pathways will also depend on fuel availability, regulatory frameworks, and operational readiness across the maritime value chain.