Maersk has completed the first ship-to-ship commercial ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the United States. The operation gives ship managers further operational experience with ethanol as an alternative marine fuel and examines the infrastructure needed to support future fuel pathways.
A.P. Moller – Maersk has completed a commercial ethanol bunkering operation aboard Tangier Maersk, using 100% US-produced corn ethanol in what the company says is the first ship-to-ship commercial ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the United States.
The dual-fuel alcohol-enabled container vessel was bunkered in the US as part of Maersk’s work to assess different fuel pathways for lower-emission shipping.
The operation gives ship managers practical data on ethanol sourcing, bunkering infrastructure, onboard operations and supply chain requirements. Ethanol has an established production base and existing infrastructure, while its use at sea also requires suitable vessel technology and reliable fuel supply.
Maersk said the operation builds on earlier ethanol trials involving Laura Maersk and Antonia Maersk. The company is using the experience to examine how alternative fuels can work in commercial shipping operations.
Ditlev Blicher, Maersk Regional President for North America, said: “Achieving lower-emission logistics requires turning new technologies into practical, scalable solutions, This bunkering operation aboard Tangier Maersk provides valuable real-world experience with alternative fuels in commercial shipping. The insights gained will help drive the development of more sustainable supply chains.”
The bunkering also brings attention to the infrastructure requirements that shipowners will face as they assess alternative fuels. Beyond the vessel itself, fuel availability, regulation, sourcing and port infrastructure all affect whether an alternative fuel can support regular commercial operations.
Maersk’s latest operation therefore provides a live test of ethanol within a deep-sea container shipping setting, while adding another fuel pathway to the company’s wider exploration of lower-emission marine energy.
Tangier Maersk is a dual-fuel alcohol-enabled container vessel, and the bunkering used 100% US-produced corn ethanol.
