Singapore Completes World's Largest Ethanol Bunkering

by Angie Liew (Argus Media) Singapore has completed its first ethanol bunkering operation using around 5,000t of ISCC-certified product, also marking the largest ethanol bunkering conducted globally to date.

Danish shipowner Maersk's dual-fuel container vessel Maersk Halifax successfully bunkered bioethanol at port operator PSA's Pasir Panjang terminal, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) shared on 17 October in a joint press release with Maersk, supplier Golden Island and PSA Singapore.

Golden Island's Singapore-registered IMO Type II chemical tanker Golden Centaurus supplied the bioethanol using a mass flow meter (MFM). The bunkering was carried out simultaneously with cargo operations (SIMOPS).

The ethanol was of Brazilian origin and was supplied into Singapore through Raízen, according to sources close to the matter.

Data gathered from the operation will be used to evaluate whether Singapore's methanol bunkering technical reference, TR 129, could be extended to cover ethanol bunkering. The findings are also expected to inform the suitability of existing MFM systems for future ethanol bunker transfers, given that ethanol has similar handling characteristics to methanol and can be used in methanol-capable engines with the necessary modifications.

Market participants said the choice of Maersk Halifax is significant because unlike many alternative-fuel vessels entering service today, the ship was not built as a dedicated alternative-fuel newbuild, but was converted from a conventional container vessel into a methanol dual-fuel ship. READ MORE

Excerpt from Maersk: The bunkering took place on Maersk Halifax, the company’s first retrofitted dual-fuel vessel, while also conducting cargo operations simultaneously

A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) today (October 19, 2026) announced the successful ethanol bunkering of Maersk Halifax, the company's first retrofitted dual-fuel vessel, in Singapore. The operation marks the first time ethanol has been bunkered on a retrofitted vessel in Maersk's fleet and represents another important milestone in the company's efforts to explore multiple fuel pathways for the future of decarbonised shipping.

Conducted in Singapore in collaboration with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and other partners, the operation involved bunkering approximately 5,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-certified bioethanol, providing valuable operational experience and insights into the infrastructure, sourcing, supply chain readiness, and vessel operations associated with using ethanol as a marine fuel.

The operation builds on Maersk's longstanding commitment to pursuing multiple fuel and technology pathways to support the maritime industry's transition toward decarbonising ocean transportation. Ethanol is emerging as a promising transition fuel because of its global availability, established production and distribution networks, and compatibility with alcohol-enabled engine technologies. When certified and sourced from low-carbon pathways, ethanol can deliver significant greenhouse gas reductions compared with conventional marine fuels.

About Maersk

A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) is an integrated logistics company connecting and simplifying its customers’ supply chains. As a global leader in logistics services, the company has 100,000+ customers, operates in almost 130 countries, and employs 100,000+ people. Maersk delivers innovative, reliable ocean network solutions, offers truly integrated logistics products and operates advanced container terminals, both gateways and hubs, with 60+ locations globally. READ MORE