Maersk Pioneers First U.S. Ethanol Bunkering for Deep-Sea Container Ship

Maersk has achieved a significant milestone with the first ship-to-ship commercial ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the United States. The operation, involving the Tangier Maersk, a dual-fuel alcohol-enabled container vessel, used 100% U.S.-produced corn ethanol. This marks a key step in Maersk’s broader strategy to explore various sustainable fuel options for the future of shipping.

The bunkering operation provided valuable insights into the operational, infrastructure, sourcing, and supply chain considerations for using ethanol as a marine fuel. While ethanol offers advantages such as an established production base and compatibility with existing vessel technology, its scalability will depend on factors like fuel availability, regulation, and operational readiness across the maritime industry.

The success of this operation builds on previous ethanol trials aboard the Laura Maersk and Antonia Maersk, reinforcing Maersk’s commitment to advancing the shipping industry’s energy transition. The real-world experience gained from this bunkering will help drive the development of more sustainable supply chains.