Brazil Conducts First Ocean-Going Ship Ethanol Fueling

CMA CGM IRON, a transoceanic container ship, received an ethanol fuel delivery at the Port of Santos in São Paulo, Brazil, in an unprecedented operation. Several companies including CMA CGM, Copersucar, and Bunker One coordinated the logistics to supply the 13,000 TEU vessel with ethanol. This test aims to evaluate lower-carbon fuels for maritime transport, as shipping currently relies heavily on fossil fuels.

Ethanol could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 70% compared to traditional bunker fuel. The supplied ethanol came from a certified production chain and largely from previously degraded pasturelands, aligning with Brazil’s RenovaBio national biofuel policy.

CMA CGM plans to operate around 200 low-carbon energy capable ships by 2031, targeting carbon neutrality by 2050, and hopes to establish Santos as a South American hub for low-carbon marine fuels.