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Maersk Pioneers US Deep-Sea Ethanol Bunkering

[ October 9, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

Maersk has completed what it says is the first ship-to-ship commercial ethanol bunkering of a deep-sea container vessel in the U.S., testing another potential alternative fuel pathway for ocean shipping.

The dual-fuel Tangier Maersk was bunkered with 100 percent U.S.-produced corn ethanol. Maersk said the operation provided practical experience with the infrastructure, sourcing, supply chain and operational requirements involved in using ethanol as a marine fuel.

Ethanol already has an established production and distribution base and can be used aboard alcohol-enabled vessels, although Maersk cautioned that its potential as a scalable marine fuel will depend on availability, regulation and operational readiness across the maritime supply chain.

“This bunkering operation aboard Tangier Maersk provides valuable real-world experience with alternative fuels in commercial shipping,” said Ditlev Blicher, Maersk regional president for North America. “The insights gained will help drive the development of more sustainable supply chains.”

The operation follows previous ethanol trials aboard Laura Maersk and Antonia Maersk. Maersk has emphasized that it is examining multiple potential fuel pathways rather than relying on a single technology as shipping moves toward lower-emission operations.

Tags: Maersk