World News
IBIA CONVENTION 2025: Ethanol's Availability Makes it Potential Candidate for Marine Use
Ethanol has been touted as a potential marine fuel, as it is presently more readily available in certain parts of the world compared to methanol, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport said.
The fuel's chemical similarity to methanol makes the transition less of a leap, Hing Chao, chairman of Hong Kong Chamber of Shipping and Wah Kwong Maritime Transport, said at a panel discussion at IBIA Annual Convention 2025 in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
"In certain parts of the world, ethanol or bioethanol, e-ethanol, is more readily available compared to biomethanol or e-methanol, and the ships can take both molecules, so much better," Chao said.
Chao added its better to look at a multi-fuel future.
But not everyone on the panel was convinced shipowners could commit to the fuel at this stage. Bud Darr, CEO of CLIA, warned that uptake would likely be slow.
"I think there's going to be a bit of a lag time before you have real reliability and willingness," he said.
Sustainability was another concern raised during the session.
Darr questioned how to ensure feedstocks do not compete with food production, an issue echoed by Lynn Loo, CEO of the GCMD.
"This is already true for the various kinds of feedstocks that go into producing biofuels, but ethanol, especially because it can, I mean, a large chunk of it does come from corn," Loo said.
Despite the doubts, interest in ethanol continues to build in shipping.
Container shipping firm AP Moller Maersk recently began testing an E10 blend, 90% e-methanol and 10% ethanol, on one of its dual-fuel methanol boxships to assess the fuel's performance.
At the same time, engine makers such as Everllence and WinGD are progressing with the development of ethanol-capable engines, with WinGD planning to launch a two-stroke ethanol engine next year.
WinGD says the fuel's combustion and emission profile is similar to methanol.
Key Bunker Prices More
| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 465.00 | 0.50 | 743.00 | 1.50 |
| Rotterdam | 434.50 | 0.00 | 742.00 | 18.00 |
| Houston | 435.50 | 1.50 | 726.00 | 19.00 |
| Fujairah | 464.00 | 11.50 | 746.50 | 8.00 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 493.00 | 1.00 | 804.00 | 7.00 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 449.50 | 2.00 | 739.50 | 11.50 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 539.50 | 0.50 | 833.50 | 4.00 |
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