Maersk Tests Commercial Ethanol Bunkering for Deep-Sea Vessels
A.P. Moller Maersk has completed the first commercial ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the United States, using domestically produced corn ethanol aboard the Tangier Maersk. The operation adds ethanol to the range of fuels being tested by major container carriers as the shipping industry looks for practical ways to reduce emissions.
The Tangier Maersk is an alcohol-enabled dual-fuel container vessel delivered in 2026. POET, a U.S. bioethanol producer, supplied the 100% plant-based bioethanol used in the operation. Industry reports place the bunkering operation in Houston.
The trial aimed to provide practical information about fuel handling, infrastructure, sourcing, and the supply chain needed to use ethanol in commercial shipping. Maersk's Regional President for North America, Ditlev Blicher, said that this operation would help the company understand how lower-emission supply chains could be developed at a commercial scale.