The container carrier A.P. Moller – Maersk today said it has completed the first ship-to-ship commercial ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the United States, marking progress toward its exploration of lower-emission logistics for shipping.
According to Maersk, the operation provided insight into the operational, infrastructure, sourcing, and supply chain considerations for using ethanol as a marine fuel. While ethanol benefits from an established production base, existing infrastructure, and compatibility with alcohol-enabled vessel technology, scalable future fuel pathways will also depend on fuel availability, regulation, and operational readiness across the maritime value chain.
The event achieved the bunkering of Tangier Maersk, a dual-fuel alcohol-enabled container vessel, using U.S.-produced corn ethanol. It builds on previous ethanol trials aboard Laura Maersk and Antonia Maersk, and reflects Maersk’s continued commitment to exploring and advancing credible pathways to drive progress within the shipping industry’s energy transition.
