Singapore has completed the largest single ethanol bunkering operation recorded globally, supplying approximately 5,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-certified bioethanol to the Singapore-registered Maersk Halifax at PSA's Pasir Panjang Terminal on October 17. Golden Island delivered the fuel from the IMO Type II chemical tanker Golden Centaurus using a mass flow meter, while container loading and discharge continued simultaneously. The operation was also Singapore's first ethanol bunker and will provide data for determining how the port's existing TR 129 methanol-bunkering standard can be adapted for ethanol operations.
Pasir Panjang Terminal · Singapore · Oct. 17, 2026
Singapore Turns Ethanol Bunkering Into a Full-Scale Port Operation
The record was set during an active container call rather than a stand-alone demonstration window.
Single Ethanol Bunker
5,000metric tonnes
ISCC-certified bioethanol. MPA says this is the largest volume of ethanol transferred in one marine bunkering operation globally to date.
Singapore is validating MFM application for ethanol custody transfer.
TerminalPSA Pasir Panjang
Bunkering took place while normal container operations continued.
Fuel Supply
Golden Island
→
Ship-to-Ship Transfer
Golden Centaurus + MFM
→
Receiving Vessel
Maersk Halifax
Operational MilestoneFuel + Containers at the Same Time
SIMOPS avoids treating alternative-fuel bunkering as a separate port event. That is essential if alcohol fuels are to fit high-frequency liner schedules.
Regulatory MilestoneTR 129 Is the Starting Point
Singapore will use the operation to determine how its existing methanol-bunkering framework can be modified for ethanol.
Maersk Ethanol Development Path
From a 10% Blend to a 5,000-Tonne Bunker in About One Year
Maersk has been increasing ethanol concentration, vessel size and bunkering complexity rather than jumping directly from laboratory tests to commercial-scale fueling.
Oct-Nov 2025
Laura Mærsk Tests E10
10% ethanol blended with 90% e-methanol. Maersk reported safe integration and comparable engine performance.
Late 2025
Laura Mærsk Moves to E50
The test program increased ethanol to 50%, building combustion, lubricity and corrosion experience.
Jul. 9 2026
Antonia Mærsk Takes 100% Ethanol
Barcelona supplied approximately 2,800 tonnes to a large dual-fuel containership under commercial port conditions.
Sep. 28 2026
Tangier Mærsk Completes U.S. Commercial Bunker
100% U.S.-produced corn ethanol was supplied ship-to-ship to a 9,000-TEU deep-sea containership.
Oct. 17 2026
Maersk Halifax Takes 5,000 Tonnes During SIMOPS
Singapore combines record ethanol volume, mass-flow measurement and live terminal container operations.
Singapore Stem
5,000 mt
Largest single ethanol marine bunker recorded to date.
Barcelona Stem
2,800 mt
Earlier large-vessel 100% ethanol operation on Antonia Mærsk.
Maersk Halifax
~15,690 TEU
Large methanol-retrofitted containership now testing ethanol flexibility.
Retrofit Duration
88 Days
Time required for the original Halifax dual-fuel methanol conversion.
Fuel Advantage vs Methanol
~34% More Energy / kg
Published fuel-property data put ethanol near 26.7 MJ/kg versus roughly 19.9 MJ/kg for methanol.
Infrastructure Advantage
Existing Global Market
Ethanol already has established production, storage and distribution chains outside shipping.
Commercial Unknown
Lifecycle Carbon + Cost
Feedstock, certification, price and well-to-wake emissions ultimately determine whether ethanol qualifies as a competitive lower-GHG pathway.
SIMOPS Berth-Time Lab
Model why simultaneous cargo handling and alternative-fuel bunkering matters to liner economics.
Operational Model
0% means fully sequential. 100% means the shorter task occurs entirely during the longer one.
Sequential Port Call30.0 h
Container handling
Ethanol bunkering
SIMOPS Port Call19.2 h
Container handling
Ethanol bunkering
Hours Saved Per Call
10.8 h
Difference between sequential and overlapping operations.
Annual Ship-Days Released
9.0 d
Based on the entered number of alternative-fuel calls.
Illustrative Time Value
$450K
Ship-days released multiplied by entered vessel time value.
This is the operational significance of the Singapore trial.
A fuel can be technically compatible with an engine and still struggle commercially if every bunker adds a separate half-day or full day to a container ship's port stay. SIMOPS allows the fuel transfer to occupy time the ship is already alongside handling boxes. Actual transfer duration for the 5,000-tonne Singapore operation was not publicly disclosed, so all timing values in this model are user-adjustable scenarios.
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