Maersk sets new record with bioethanol bunkering in Singapore
Maersk has supplied around 5,000 tonnes of certified bioethanol to its dual-fuel containership Maersk Halifax in Singapore. The company says this is the largest single ethanol refuelling operation ever carried out on a ship. The test also showed how bunkering could take place while a vessel loads and unloads containers. Reported by The Maritime Telegraph.
The operation took place on 17 October at Pasir Panjang Terminal. The fuel came from Golden Centaurus, a chemical tanker operated by supplier Golden Island. Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority supported the test. The teams checked safety risks and prepared crews to handle the fuel and deal with emergencies.
The trial will help Singapore decide whether its existing technical reference for methanol bunkering can also apply to ethanol. It will also provide data on how accurately special meters measure the fuel during transfer. Ethanol stays liquid at normal temperatures, and engines designed for alcohol fuels may be able to use it with the necessary modifications. The successful test does not mean ethanol bunkering is ready for regular commercial use. Maersk is exploring several alternative fuels to reduce shipping emissions and has already tested ethanol on three other dual-fuel ships: Laura Maersk, Antonia Maersk and Tangier Maersk.
