World’s largest container shipping firm conducts first US’ ship-to-ship ethanol bunkering

The world’s largest container shipping company has completed the successful bunkering of a dual-fuel alcohol-enabled container vessel, using U.S.-produced corn ethanol.

Named Tangier Maersk, the vessel’s bunkering was completed by Maersk. The development marked the first ship-to-ship commercial ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the United States.

The step is part of Maersk’s broader efforts to explore multiple potential fuel pathways for the future of shipping.

Operation builds on previous ethanol trials

“The operation 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,” said Ditlev Blicher, Maersk Regional President for North America.

This operation provided valuable 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, according to a press release.

Real-world experience with alternative fuels in commercial shipping

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, as per the release.

The development is notable because ethanol already has a large-established production and distribution network in the United States. Using an existing fuel supply chain could potentially provide an advantage as shipping companies investigate alternatives to conventional fossil-based marine fuels.

The operation also creates a connection between the U.S. agricultural sector and the global maritime industry. Corn is one of the principal feedstocks for U.S. ethanol production, meaning greater use of ethanol in shipping could potentially create another market for American biofuel producers.

Tangier Maersk is equipped with alcohol-enabled dual-fuel propulsion

The Tangier Maersk is equipped with an alcohol-enabled dual-fuel propulsion system, allowing the vessel to operate using alternative alcohol-based fuels alongside conventional marine fuel. Industry reporting has described the vessel as a roughly 9,000-TEU container ship measuring about 270 metres in length.

The use of U.S.-produced corn ethanol also highlights the increasingly interconnected nature of the energy, agricultural and maritime sectors.

The U.S. is already a major global ethanol producer, with an established network of production facilities and distribution infrastructure. POET, for example, says it produces more than three billion gallons of bioethanol annually across its network of 35 bioprocessing facilities.