Maersk completes first U.S. ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel

A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) has announced the successful bunkering of Tangier Maersk, a dual-fuel alcohol-enabled container vessel, using U.S.-produced corn ethanol.

The operation marked the first ship-to-ship commercial ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the United States. The milestone is part of Maersk’s broader efforts to explore multiple potential fuel pathways for the future of shipping.

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.

“Achieving lower-emission logistics requires turning new technologies into practical, scalable solutions,” said Ditlev Blicher, Maersk Regional President for North America. “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 company says the operation builds on previous ethanol trials aboard Laura Maersk and Antonia Maersk and reflects its continued commitment to exploring and advancing credible pathways to drive progress within the shipping industry’s energy transition.