Maersk Completes First Commercial Ethanol Bunkering in US

Maersk announced on September 28 that it had successfully completed a bunkering operation using US-produced corn ethanol aboard one of its Danish-flagged dual-fuel containerships.

The operation involved the 2026-built alcohol-enabled deep-sea containership Tangier Maersk, which received the ethanol through a ship-to-ship bunkering operation in the United States.

According to Maersk, the milestone represents its first commercial ship-to-ship ethanol bunkering operation. It follows earlier ethanol trials carried out aboard the Laura Maersk and Antonia Maersk in July.

Maersk said ethanol already has an established production base and supporting infrastructure in the United States. However, wider adoption of ethanol as a marine fuel will depend on factors including its availability at scale, suitable bunkering infrastructure, clear regulations and operational readiness throughout the maritime value chain.