A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) on Thursday (9 October) is testing a new fuel blend aboard its dual-fuel containership Laura Maersk, its vessel that has been running on methanol for the last years.
The vessel, which became the world’s first container vessel to sail on methanol, is now testing a new mix of e-methanol and 10% ethanol, called the E10.
“The goal is to understand how ethanol performs in our dual-fuel engines and whether it can become part of our future fuel mix. We’re testing key parameters like ignition, combustion, lubricity, and emissions,” Maersk said in a social media post.
Maersk said it is aware that reaching its climate targets requires exploring multiple technological and fuel pathways.
“The reason for blending it is to enlarge the availability and the sourcing pool for these dual-fuel vessels. But we have a number of things we would like to test out,” Peter Normark Sorensen, Senior Fuel Transition Manager at Maersk, explained.
“For instance, are there any differences between the standard methanol and the E10 in, say, the ignition quality? In the way the fuels are burning? Are there any differences or similarities of the corrosion on the lubricity? And, not the least, are the emissions different between the two fuels?”
The E10 delivered to Laura Maersk is expected to be consumed during the next 1 to 1.5 months. From there, Maersk will be able to decide how it can proceed to its next stage of these testings.
Chris Chatterton, Maritime Advisor of Global Centre for Green Fuels (GCGF), praised Maersk on the initiative and said expanding the bunker fuel pool to include ethanol alongside methanol is a powerful step forward.
“Methanol dual-fuel vessels that can run on methanol and now optionally on ethanol, which is widely available and competitively priced, help de-risk the energy transition, improve flexibility, and accelerate the adoption of lower-carbon fuels,” he said.
“Thank you for pushing boundaries and setting new benchmarks for sustainable shipping and bunkering.”
In an exclusive interview with Manifold Times, Chatterton made his case on why ethanol should have a seat at the alternative bunker fuel table.
