POET, the world's largest bioethanol producer, supplied the fuel for the first bunkering of a vessel with 100 percent bioethanol in the United States, a trial with shipping company A.P. Moller - Maersk in Houston, the company said on 28 September.

The operation builds on Maersk's testing of bioethanol in its dual-fuel fleet. Kirby Corporation handled the marine bunkering and fuel transport, the Port of Houston coordinated, and the US Coast Guard supported the regulatory requirements. "Seeing American-made bioethanol move from the farm to a container ship in one of the nation's largest ports is an exciting moment for our industry," said POET founder and chief executive Jeff Broin.

Emma Mazhari, Maersk's vice president for energy markets, said bioethanol could offer "another scalable, lower-emission fuel option" as shipping moves to lower-carbon fuels. POET produces more than 3 billion gallons of bioethanol a year at 35 plants, and is the 11th-largest US container exporter, largely of feed co-products from ethanol production.

For corn growers, the trial points to a possible new outlet beyond road fuel, if bioethanol wins a place in the marine-fuel supply chain.

Photo: Yennen-Gas / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Source: American Ag Network