Maersk Completes First U.S. Ethanol Bunkering for an Ocean-Going Vessel

A.P. Moller - Maersk announced on September 28 that it had successfully completed the supply of U.S.-produced corn ethanol to the Tangier Maersk, a dual-fuel, alcohol-capable containership. The operation marks the first commercial ship-to-ship ethanol bunkering carried out for an ocean-going containership in the United States.

The Tangier Maersk is a Danish-flagged containership built in 2026, with a nominal capacity of 9,016 TEU, a length of 274 meters, a beam of 46 meters, and a deadweight of 114,293 tonnes. The operation took place in Houston, where bioethanol producer POET supplied the fuel used, which it described as the first marine bunkering operation in the United States using 100% bioethanol.

Kirby Corporation provided support for the bunkering operation and fuel transport, while the Port of Houston contributed port coordination and infrastructure, and the U.S. Coast Guard oversaw regulatory requirements. Emma Mazhari, Maersk's Vice President of Energy Markets, noted that bioethanol can offer a scalable, lower-emission fuel option, while Jeff Broin, founder and CEO of POET, highlighted that the trial connected U.S. agricultural production with marine fuel demand.

The operation adds to earlier ethanol trials conducted aboard the Laura Maersk and the Antonia Maersk. According to Maersk, ethanol has an established production base and existing infrastructure in the United States, but its broader adoption as a marine fuel will depend on scalable availability, adequate infrastructure, clear regulation, and operational readiness across the maritime value chain. Ditlev Blicher, Maersk's Regional President for North America, stated that achieving lower-emission logistics requires turning new technologies into practical, scalable solutions, and that the operation provides real-world experience with alternative fuels in commercial shipping.