Maersk successfully completed its first-ever fully ethanol-powered maritime voyage, marking a significant step in the global shipping industry’s push toward decarbonization.
The company said the voyage demonstrated the operational efficiency and reliability of ethanol as a marine fuel throughout the entire sailing period, describing the trial as a successful test conducted in early 2026.
According to Maersk, the journey produced valuable operational data that could support the future expansion of ethanol use within its fleet, as the company continues to explore alternative fuels to reduce carbon emissions.
The development forms part of Maersk’s broader strategy to expand the use of low-emission marine fuels as it works toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, a target set a decade ahead of the International Maritime Organization’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
The company has already been experimenting with alternative fuel blends, including ethanol and methanol mixtures in dual-fuel vessels. Earlier trials included a 10% ethanol blend, followed by a 50-50 mix of ethanol and methanol, before progressing to the first 100% ethanol-powered voyage.
Maersk said its dual-fuel vessels are designed to operate flexibly using conventional marine fuel alongside methanol and ethanol, a capability that is becoming increasingly important as the industry balances fuel availability, infrastructure limitations, and tightening environmental regulations.
The shipping sector currently accounts for roughly 2% to 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while new rules from the International Maritime Organization require at least a 20% emissions reduction by 2030 and full net-zero alignment by 2050.
This regulatory pressure has accelerated investment in alternative marine fuels, including bio-methanol, e-methanol, biodiesel, ammonia, and ethanol, as shipping companies race to identify scalable long-term solutions.
Maersk has ordered 45 dual-fuel vessels, 14 of which are already in operation. The company said the ethanol trial adds a new potential pathway in its evolving fuel strategy, though it acknowledged that the industry has yet to converge on a single dominant alternative fuel.
Despite the successful test, significant supply chain challenges remain. Market estimates suggest that even a 10% ethanol blend across global shipping could require up to 50 billion liters annually, exceeding the current production capacity of Brazil, one of the world’s largest ethanol producers alongside the United States.
Logistical constraints also persist, particularly in developing the port infrastructure required to supply ethanol at scale across major global shipping routes.
Environmental concerns have also been raised regarding the expansion of biofuel production, with critics warning that rising demand for ethanol could place additional pressure on land use and indirectly contribute to deforestation risks.
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