Maersk’s vessel bunkered with 100% ethanol by barge

Danish shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk has bunkered 100% ethanol (E100) on one of its methanol dual-fuel containerships.

IMAGE: Laura Maersk docked at the Kasso plant. X of @Maersk

The 2,100-TEU methanol-capable feeder Laura Maersk received its second E100 bunkering, this time via barge in Rotterdam. The company did not disclose the volume supplied or the bunker supplier involved.

This follows successful trials of a 10% ethanol (E10) blended with 90% e-methanol, and 50% ethanol (E50) blended with 50% methanol on the Laura Maersk earlier this year. The vessel also tested 100% ethanol (E100) during the first quarter.

Ethanol and methanol are both alcohols and share similar chemical traits, but they do not behave identically as fuels. Ethanol carries roughly a third more energy per kilogram than methanol, ignites more easily, burns slightly slower and produces a hotter flame.

In practical terms, that means engine settings such as fuel injection, ignition timing and operating temperature need to be evaluated.

A methanol-capable engine cannot simply switch to ethanol without ensuring that the existing fuel-handling equipment can accommodate it.

By Aparupa Mazumder

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online