The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has announced that Maersk, Golden Island Pte Ltd and PSA Singapore have completed the world's largest ethanol bunkering operation to date, carried out at PSA's Pasir Panjang Terminal on 17 October.

The delivery marked Singapore's first ethanol bunkering and was conducted simultaneously with cargo operations (SIMOPS), using a mass flow meter to measure the fuel transfer.

The Maersk Halifax, a Singapore-registered dual-fuel container vessel, received approximately 5,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-certified bioethanol from Golden Island's Singapore-registered IMO Type II chemical tanker, Golden Centaurus, while container operations continued at the terminal.

MPA explained that the operation is set to generate data that could inform how Singapore's existing methanol bunkering technical reference, TR 129, might be adapted for ethanol bunkering, with the port authority noting that ethanol has handling characteristics similar to methanol and can be used in methanol-capable engines, subject to necessary modifications. The findings from this operation are also expected to help determine whether existing mass flow meter systems could be deployed for future ethanol bunkering activities.

Prior to the SIMOPS, participating parties conducted a hazard identification and hazard and operability study workshop. MPA worked with stakeholders to ensure crew members were trained in handling the fuel and in associated emergency response procedures, drawing on prior experience from methanol bunkering operations.

Ang Wee Keong, chief executive of MPA, stated: "This operation allows us to test how Singapore's experience and existing infrastructure for methanol bunkering can support another emerging marine fuel. The findings will help us develop the standards and procedures needed for safe and efficient ethanol bunkering, as we continue to prepare Singapore for a multi-fuel future."

Emma Mazhari, head of energy markets at Maersk, commented: "The energy transition requires us to explore and scale solutions that can deliver real-world impact. At Maersk, we continue to pursue a multi-fuel strategy because we recognise that no single fuel pathway can decarbonise global shipping on its own."

Johnny Tan, managing director of Golden Island Pte Ltd, remarked: "We are proud to have delivered Singapore's first ethanol bunkering, and to have done it alongside live cargo operations, using a mass flow meter. Our crew and Golden Centaurus built on what we learned in methanol bunkering and followed the same safety-first discipline. That let us deliver the largest single ethanol bunker to date safely and on time. We thank MPA, Maersk and PSA for their close collaboration. Golden Island will keep investing in the people, vessels and know-how needed to supply lower-carbon fuels, so that customers can choose the fuel that best meets their decarbonisation goals in the Port of Singapore."

Nelson Quek, regional CEO Southeast Asia at PSA International, added: "The completion of the SIMOPS at Pasir Panjang Terminal marks an important step in advancing our operational readiness for a wider range of lower-carbon fuel options, supporting PSA's commitment to sustainability and the maritime industry's decarbonisation efforts. Safety remains our foremost priority, and this operation provides valuable insights into how ethanol bunkering can be safely integrated with container terminal operations. PSA Singapore will continue to work closely with our partners to strengthen our capabilities, build operational resilience, and support the safe, efficient, and scalable adoption of new marine fuels as we enable a more sustainable maritime ecosystem."