A.P. Moller – Maersk has completed the first commercial ship-to-ship ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the United States, refueling the dual-fuel alcohol-enabled container ship Tangier Maersk with 100% U.S.-produced corn ethanol.
The operation expands Maersk’s alternative fuel testing program following earlier ethanol trials aboard Laura Maersk and Antonia Maersk, advancing real-world operational evaluation of multiple low-carbon fuel pathways.
Bunkering Operation and Technical Feasibility
The refueling milestone yields operational data across fuel handling, bunkering logistics, and vessel engine performance:
- Vessel and Fuel Profile: Refueled Tangier Maersk, a dual-fuel alcohol-capable deep-sea container ship, using domestic corn-derived ethanol.
- Infrastructure and Supply Chain Insights: Evaluated operational readiness, ship-to-ship transfer protocols, regional fuel sourcing, and compatibility with existing maritime bunkering infrastructure.
- Technology Alignment: Leveraged ethanol’s compatibility with dual-fuel alcohol engines and established industrial production bases to assess scaling potential against regulatory and availability frameworks.
Alternative Fuel Strategy
The trial aligns with Maersk’s broader decarbonization strategy to test scalable, commercial alternative fuel options for ocean transport:
- Multi-Fuel Pathway Approach: Tests ethanol alongside e-methanol and bio-methanol to evaluate commercial viability and supply chain readiness across global trade routes.
- Operational Readiness: Builds on previous trial data to establish standardized safety protocols and operational parameters for alcohol-based marine fuels.
Executive Perspective
Ditlev Blicher, Maersk Regional President for North America, stated that turning new fuel technologies into practical, scalable solutions through commercial operations like Tangier Maersk provides the real-world experience necessary to build sustainable maritime supply chains.
อัพเดตข่าวสารและบทความที่น่าสนใจในอุตสาหกรรมโลจิสติกส์ก่อนใคร ผ่าน Line Official Account @Logistics Mananger เพียงเพิ่มเราเป็นเพื่อน @Logistics Manager หรือคลิกที่นี่
