Denmark | October 10, 2025 – In a bold stride towards decarbonizing maritime transport, A.P. Moller – Maersk continues to push the envelope by turning its container vessel, Laura Mærsk, into a floating test lab for next-generation sustainable fuels. Building on its historic milestone as the world’s first container vessel to operate solely on methanol in 2023, Maersk is now trailblazing further innovation by testing a cutting-edge fuel blend: e-methanol combined with 10% ethanol, known as E10.
The Quest for Cleaner Fuels: Why E10?
Achieving climate targets in shipping demands embracing diverse technological pathways, and Maersk recognizes the critical need to explore multiple fuel options. The Laura Mærsk’s latest voyage involves a meticulously controlled experiment to understand how ethanol—blended with methanol—performs in real-world marine engine conditions.
Peter Normark Sorensen, Senior Fuel Transition Manager at Maersk, explains the rationale “We aim to expand the sourcing pool and availability for our dual-fuel vessels by blending methanol with ethanol. This testing allows us to evaluate crucial performance parameters such as ignition quality, combustion behavior, lubricity, and emissions, including nitrogen oxides (NOx).”
Importantly, the e-methanol used in this blend is produced from renewable electricity and biogenic CO₂, making the E10 mix a true low-carbon alternative aligned with Maersk’s long-term sustainability goals. The addition of ethanol also improves fuel availability and supply chain resilience—a key factor as Maersk scales up green fuel adoption across its fleet.
Ethanol’s Emerging Role in Global Decarbonization
Maersk’s exploration of ethanol comes at a time when the fuel is gaining global momentum as a low-carbon solution. In 2022, over 200 biorefineries across the U.S. had the capacity to produce more than 17 billion gallons of low-carbon ethanol annually. This renewable fuel already reduces greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50% compared to gasoline, and in 2021 alone, its use cut emissions by 54.5 million metric tons—the equivalent of removing 12 million cars from the road for a year.
Beyond road transport, ethanol is increasingly being explored for aviation, heavy-duty equipment, and even power generation. Maersk’s trial reflects the shipping sector’s growing interest in tapping into this abundant, proven, and scalable fuel, potentially unlocking new synergies with global producers.
Why Methanol Remains the Cornerstone of Maersk’s Green Fuel Strategy
At the core of this trial is methanol, Maersk’s foundational green marine fuel. Methanol is a clean-burning, biodegradable liquid fuel that has rapidly emerged as one of the most promising alternatives to traditional marine fuels. Compared to conventional fuels, methanol reduces:
- Sulfur oxides (SOx) by ~99%
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx) by up to 60%
- Particulate matter by ~95%
These characteristics make methanol ideal for meeting IMO and national emission standards. In addition, methanol is widely available, easily stored as a liquid, and requires minimal modifications to existing infrastructure—making it a cost-effective transition fuel.
Methanol is produced today primarily from natural gas but can also be synthesized from renewable sources like biomass, waste, and captured CO₂. This versatility allows Maersk to adopt e-methanol today, while also future-proofing its fleet for a truly net-zero future.
Methanol’s safety record is also well established: it’s been globally handled and transported for over a century and is already one of the most widely shipped chemical commodities in the world.
What’s In the Mix?
The E10 fuel blend bunkered on the Laura Mærsk consists of 90% e-methanol and 10% ethanol. This precise blend is being consumed over the course of several weeks, during which the vessel’s dual-fuel engines are closely monitored to detect any differences compared to pure methanol fuel.
Key areas of focus include:
- Ignition and Combustion: Assessing how ethanol influences the ignition timing and combustion efficiency.
- Lubricity and Corrosion: Understanding potential impacts on engine wear and fuel system integrity.
- Emissions: Measuring the environmental footprint, especially NOx emissions, which are critical for regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship.
Floating Laboratory for Real-World Insights
The Laura Mærsk serves as more than just a cargo ship; it is a dynamic platform where theoretical concepts meet practical application. Maersk’s approach involves systematic, real-world testing under operational conditions, ensuring that any new fuel solutions are not just innovative but also reliable and scalable.
Alongside full-scale tests, Maersk leverages its smaller research vessel, Lower MK, to conduct preliminary experiments with alternative fuels. This multi-tiered testing strategy accelerates the adoption of sustainable fuels across the company’s extensive fleet of dual-fuel vessels.
At 2,100 TEU capacity, the Laura Mærsk is a nimble yet impactful testbed for technologies that could one day power the industry’s largest vessels.
Setting the Course for a Sustainable Maritime Future
This E10 trial is more than a scientific study—it’s a strategic maneuver that fits into Maersk’s larger decarbonization roadmap, with the bold target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2040. If successful, ethanol could become a permanent fixture in Maersk’s green fuel portfolio, unlocking a broader spectrum of supply options and reducing dependence on any single feedstock.
As the tests on the Laura Mærsk progress over the next month and a half, the maritime world eagerly awaits insights that could shape the future fuel landscape. This experiment epitomizes Maersk’s commitment to pioneering solutions that balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility.
About A.P. Moller – Maersk
A.P. Moller – Maersk is a global leader in integrated logistics, committed to connecting and simplifying its customers’ supply chains. With operations in over 130 countries and a workforce of around 100,000 employees, Maersk is at the forefront of shipping, terminal operations, and logistics solutions.
The company is driving the transition to sustainable shipping, aiming to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2040 through investments in alternative fuels, energy-efficient vessels, and digital innovation with at least 65% lifecycle emissions reductions, and extensive efficiency measures such as this retrofit programme. Maersk is dedicated to shaping the future of global trade with end-to-end supply chain solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and promote environmental sustainability.
Source: Maersk