French shipping firm CMA CGM has completed a trial bunkering operation of 500t of ethanol at the port of Santos, marking the first ethanol bunkering of a containership in Brazil.
The fuel was supplied by Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer Copersucar and used sugarcane as feedstock. It was delivered by the bunker supplier Bunker One to the 13,000 TEU CMA CGM Iron.
The vessel will now test the fuel in its Everllence dual-fuel methanol-ethanol engine during a voyage calling at Paranaguá before continuing to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The companies have not set a timeline for additional ethanol bunkering operations in Santos or for repeating the trial. CMA CGM said it intends to continue expanding its renewable bunkering activities in Brazil.
The shipping group expects to operate around 200 container vessels capable of running on low-carbon fuels, including methanol and ethanol, by 2031 as part of its decarbonization strategy.
The Port Authority of Santos and terminal operator Santos Brasil, which is controlled by the CMA CGM Group, said they will continue efforts to expand the availability of renewable marine fuels at the port. The companies aim to strengthen Santos' position as a regional hub for maritime decarbonization and renewable bunkering in South America.
