Brazil launches a first-of-its-kind ethanol-fueled maritime test with a container ship departing from the Port of Santos. Multiple outlets report that the CMA CGM Iron, a tri-fuel vessel designed to operate on alternative fuels, takes on Brazilian ethanol as part of an unprecedented trial for the country’s biofuels sector in shipping.
According to the reports, the ship refuels with about 650,000 litres of ethanol supplied by trading group Copersucar. The fuel test is described as a national first for Brazilian ethanol in maritime transportation, with the voyage aimed at demonstrating ethanol’s feasibility as a lower-emissions option for ocean shipping.
The CMA CGM Iron is scheduled to sail from Santos on a route to Asia, including calls at Sri Lanka, with the trip serving as an early milestone toward broader use of biofuels in the maritime sector. The outlets characterize the departure as a key step for Brazil’s biofuel industry, though details such as performance metrics, emissions results, and duration of the trial are not provided in the source material.
