X-Press Feeders and METHANAVE have successfully completed a landmark operational trial aboard the container vessel Eco Levant in the Port of Rotterdam, utilizing a marine fuel blend of 10% ethanol and 90% methanol. This collaborative pilot project marks a significant milestone in evaluating flexible, low-emission alcohol fuel pathways to support the long-term decarbonization of global shipping fleets.
Rotterdam | May 23, 2026 – In a major step forward for dual-fuel flexibility, global common carrier X-Press Feeders and Swiss-based maritime energy transition specialist METHANAVE have successfully concluded an operational trial of an ethanol-methanol blended marine fuel.
The bunkering and onboard combustion trial took place at the Port of Rotterdam aboard the Eco Levant, a modern container vessel operated by X-Press Feeders. The operation marks a significant development in testing alternative alcohol-fuel formulations designed to broaden the maritime industry’s decarbonization pathway.
Inside the Trial: Assessing the 10/90 Alcohol Blend
The pilot project involved the delivery and bunkering of a specialized marine fuel blend consisting of 10% ethanol and 90% methanol under strictly controlled operating conditions.
METHANAVE acted as the independent lead coordinator, managing:
- Cross-border fuel sourcing coordination
- Multi-stakeholder regulatory alignment
- Operational bunkering execution
- Supervised onboard trial performance
By testing the blend under real-world, commercial operating conditions, the project enabled stakeholders to rigorously evaluate the technical and safety profiles of mixed-alcohol fuels. The assessment primarily focused on bunkering procedures, physical fuel handling processes, and onboard engine performance.
The Strategic Value of Fuel Flexibility
While much of the current maritime decarbonization focus centers on pure green methanol, exploring mixed-alcohol pathways provides shipowners with vital operational hedges. Blending ethanol with methanol can potentially optimize energy density, alter combustion characteristics, and insulate operators against localized fuel supply shortages.
Shivendu Gadkar, Head of Fleet Efficiency and Performance at X-Press Feeders, highlighted the necessity of exploring multiple pathways “Maritime fuel pathways are continuing to evolve. At X-Press Feeders, we believe it is essential to continue evaluating and advancing viable solutions that can support the long-term decarbonisation of our fleet. Over the past year, we have assessed the ethanol pathway and identified a certified green fuel that complies with recognised sustainability standards.”
Cross-Industry Collaboration and Value Chain Execution
The operational trial underscores a broader trend of alternative fuel companies moving from theoretical modeling to active value-chain collaboration. Morten Jacobsen and Sylvain Zurcher, co-founders of METHANAVE and the Global Ethanol Association, stressed that mixed-alcohol strategies create unique commercial pathways for shipowners.
“This project demonstrates the flexibility of alcohol fuels in maritime applications and shows how collaboration across the value chain can accelerate implementation,” said Morten Jacobsen.
Sylvain Zurcher added: “Ethanol and methanol each have strong decarbonization potential, and blending strategies may create additional operational and commercial pathways for shipowners.”
Port of Rotterdam Solidifies Multi-Fuel Ecosystem
The success of the Eco Levant operational trial signals a major validation for the Port of Rotterdam’s multi-fuel bunkering strategy. As the world’s second-largest bunker port, handling approximately 10 million tonnes of marine fuel annually, Rotterdam is aggressively positioning its infrastructure to accommodate a highly diversified matrix of future fuels.
The alcohol-blend trial follows on the heels of another major port milestone: a successful pilot operation for ammonia bunkering completed in 2025, proving the port’s technical readiness to handle highly toxic or low-flashpoint alternative energy carriers.
Matthijs van Doorn, Commercial Director at the Port of Rotterdam Authority, emphasized that infrastructure flexibility is key to securing the port’s long-term market dominance “This milestone demonstrates that Rotterdam is ready for a wide range of alternative fuels. Together with all parties in the port, we aim to enable the bunkering of all alternative, low-carbon fuels in the future, promoting greater sustainability for international shipping. This will allow us to fulfil our ambition to become the leading bunker port for sustainable fuels.”
About Companies
X-Press Feeders
Founded in Singapore in 1972, X-Press Feeders is the world’s largest independent common carrier, operating a fleet of more than 100 vessels calling at 180+ ports across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Mediterranean, and Europe. As an independent carrier, the company does not own or lease containers, acting strictly as an impartial contractor to container operators. X-Press Feeders is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050 and is pioneering the deployment of green methanol-powered feeder containerships.
METHANAVE
Based in Switzerland, METHANAVE is a specialist market facilitator and independent broker driving the maritime energy transition. The company specializes in low-carbon fuel solutions, including renewable methanol and ethanol, ensuring transparent, ISCC-certified supply chain transactions. Additionally, METHANAVE operates as a ship broker and project manager focused on deploying next-generation flex-fuel, ethanol-, and methanol-powered vessels.
Source: METHANAVE | X-Press Feeders | POR