The Port of Santos is expected to host, next week, an operation considered historic for Brazilian shipping.
For the first time, a vessel from French shipowner CMA CGM will be bunkered with ethanol in a bunkering operation on the Brazilian coast, an initiative that marks a new step toward the energy transition of maritime transport.
The project is the result of a partnership between CMA CGM and Copersucar, one of the world's largest sugar and ethanol traders.
The operation seeks to demonstrate the logistical and operational viability of ethanol as a low-carbon fuel for commercial vessels, reinforcing Brazil's leading role in biofuel production.
The expectation is that the bunkering operation will serve as a proof of concept for future commercial-scale operations.
In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the use of ethanol leverages an already consolidated production chain in the country, becoming a competitive alternative to meet global maritime decarbonization targets.
Before conducting the bunkering, Copersucar needed to obtain authorization from the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) to conduct the experimental operation.
The project also involves companies specialized in marine bunkering and port logistics, using an adapted barge to transport ethanol to the vessel berthed at the container terminal of the Port of Santos.
The initiative takes place at a time when the global maritime industry is accelerating the search for alternative fuels to meet environmental requirements established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
While methanol, ammonia, hydrogen and LNG have been developed in various markets, ethanol emerges as an especially attractive option for Brazil due to the wide availability of raw materials, existing infrastructure and lower environmental impact.
Sector experts assess that the country has unique conditions to become an important international supplier of renewable fuels for shipping, leveraging its leadership in sugarcane ethanol production and its logistics structure geared toward exports.
According to experts, the operation is part of the company's global strategy aimed at reducing carbon emissions and adopting more sustainable energy solutions in its fleet.
The company has been investing in different technologies and alternative fuels to accelerate the decarbonization process of maritime transport.
Should the results confirm the operational and environmental efficiency of the project, the bunkering operation conducted in Santos could serve as a model for new operations at other Brazilian ports, strengthening the country's position as an international benchmark in the use of biofuels for commercial shipping.
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