Brazil Completes First Bioethanol Bunkering for Container Ship, towards Green Shipping

(ANI/ChiniMandi) Brazil has completed its first bioethanol bunkering operation for a container ship, marking a major milestone in the use of renewable fuels for maritime transport and strengthening the country’s position in the global low-carbon shipping transition.

According to a statement by Copersucar, a leading sugar trading company of Brazil, the operation was successfully carried out at the Port of Santos, the world’s first 13,000 TEU containership equipped with a tri-fuel certified engine capable of operating on bioethanol.

The operation was conducted in partnership with CMA CGM Group, AGEO Terminais, Santos Brasil and Bunker One. It represents the first time a container ship has been supplied with Brazilian-made bioethanol fuel for maritime operations.

Copersucar said the pioneering operation positions Brazil among the countries capable of carrying out bioethanol bunkering while reinforcing bioethanol as an immediately available solution to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the global shipping industry.

The company stated “successfully completed a bioethanol bunkering operation for the CMA CGM IRON, the first 13,000 TEU tri-fuel certified engine containership, at the Port of Santos”.

The company said the bioethanol supplied for the operation came through its certified supply chain. It added that sugarcane expansion in Brazil mainly takes place on degraded pastureland, while the country’s RenovaBio programme establishes strict sustainability and zero-deforestation requirements.

Copersucar is a massive Brazilian agribusiness and energy company that operates as the world’s largest originator and trader of cane sugar and one of the largest marketers of ethanol.

According to the statement, the bunkering operation required extensive coordination across the supply chain, including transportation of bioethanol to the Port of Santos, storage in dedicated infrastructure and transfer of the fuel to the vessel through a specialised barge while following international safety and operational standards.

Copersucar said the project provides practical evidence that bioethanol can play an important role in decarbonising maritime transport. Besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions, bioethanol offers immediate commercial-scale availability, an established production infrastructure in Brazil and competitive economics, making it a viable alternative marine fuel.

The company added that beyond this demonstration, the Port of Santos and Santos Brasil are positioning themselves as a future low-carbon marine fuel hub for South America. As the continent’s largest port, Santos has the potential to connect Brazil’s renewable energy resources with growing global demand for sustainable shipping fuels.

CMA CGM said the initiative forms part of its commitment to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050. The group expects to operate around 200 containerships capable of using low-carbon energy by 2031.

The CMA CGM IRON, delivered in 2025, is the first vessel in a series of twelve 13,000 TEU containerships equipped with the world’s first tri-fuel engine certified to operate on bioethanol. READ MORE

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 14 March 2025: The CMA CGM Iron made a historic call yesterday at CMA Terminals Khalifa Port, becoming the first dual-fuel methanol container vessel sailing to Abu Dhabi. Through this milestone, AD Ports Group and the CMA CGM Group deepen their cooperation in maritime decarbonisation.

The CMA CGM ship built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries of Korea is a dual-fuel vessel able to run both on conventional and alternative fuels such as bio-methanol and e-methanol.

Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group, said: “The arrival of the CMA CGM Iron dual-fuel container vessel is a sign of things to come in the global maritime industry, where AD Ports Group, under the wise guidance of our UAE leadership, is a leader in developing the infrastructure for a sustainable future, such as the storage and distribution of biofuels. We are committed to providing a viable commercial biofuels infrastructure at Khalifa Port, not only for our shipping customers, but also for clients in our KEZAD economic cities, many of whom are increasingly introducing biofuels in their own operations’’.

Christine Cabau Woehrel, Executive Vice President for Assets and Operations, CMA CGM Group added: “The arrival of the first dual-fuel methanol vessel at Khalifa Port marks a significant milestone in our journey towards Net Zero Carbon by 2050. It underscores the shared ambition of the CMA CGM Group and AD Ports Group to position CMA Terminals Khalifa Port as a sustainable, cutting-edge infrastructure, delivering optimal service and strengthening its role as a key hub connecting Asia, Africa, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, the Gulf, and the Indian subcontinent.”

CMA CGM, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, is a strategic partner of AD Ports Group. Aside from CMA Terminals Khalifa Port, which was inaugurated in December 2024 and expanded Khalifa Port’s capacity by 23%, the companies are jointly developing a multipurpose terminal in Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo.

The CMA CGM Iron, which has a container capacity of 13,000 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units), is the first of 12 new dual-fuel methanol vessels planned by CMA CGM, who is also planning to launch the Cobalt, Argon, Platinum, Mercury, Helium, Krypton, Thorium, Osmium, Silver, Copper, and Gold dual-fuel vessels this year and in 2026.

The Group’s dual-fuel methanol vessels represent a major milestone on the CMA CGM Group’s path towards Net Zero Carbon by 2050, and highlights the Group’s strategic and technological partnership with Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and Korea to decarbonize the shipping industry.

The CMA CGM Iron made its call in Abu Dhabi as part of CMA CGM’s CIMEX1 service, which connects Asia to the Middle East Gulf region. CMA Terminals Khalifa Port is a joint venture between CMA CGM unit CMA Terminals (70%) and AD Ports Group (30%). With investments in 60 terminals worldwide, CMA CGM Group continues to enhance its presence in port management, supporting the growth of its shipping lines, and delivering optimal service quality to customers.

Ideally situated between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, CMA Terminals Khalifa Port aims to become a key hub connecting Asia, Africa, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, the Arabian Gulf, and the Indian subcontinent. The terminal has an initial annual handling capacity of 1.8 million TEUs.

With two berths totaling 800 metres in length, and a depth of 18.5 metres, the terminal is equipped to accommodate and handle the world’s largest container ships. CMA Terminals Khalifa Port is outfitted with state-of-the-art, sustainable technology, including 8 next-generation ship-to-shore cranes and 20 electric RTGs, and features seamless connectivity to the Etihad Rail network. The terminal also includes an administrative building powered by renewable energy, including on site solar panels, which was recognized with the MENA Green Building Awards in 2022. A 90-hectare container yard completes the facility, ensuring efficient and smooth port operations. READ MORE