CMA CGM views Santos as a hub for renewable marine fuels

The shipping company says the pioneering ethanol refueling is part of a long-term plan to expand the use of lower-carbon energy sources in maritime transport

The unprecedented ethanol refueling operation for the container ship *CMA CGM Iron* at the Port of Santos is part of a broader strategy by the French shipping company to expand the use of lower-carbon fuels and develop the infrastructure needed for the maritime industry’s energy transition. In a press release, the company states that the initiative positions the Port of Santos as a future hub for low-carbon marine fuel supply in South America.

According to the company, Brazil’s largest port complex is well-positioned to meet this demand due to its high cargo volumes, its role as a port of call for major international shipping routes, and its proximity to an established biofuel production chain. The shipping company believes these factors will enable it to link Brazil’s supply of renewable fuels to the global shipping market.

CMA CGM also links this strategy to its acquisition of Santos Brasil, finalized in 2025. The company notes that the investment is part of a long-term plan aimed at strengthening port infrastructure and developing solutions to support the maritime sector’s decarbonization.

The initiative aligns with the group’s environmental goals. The shipping company aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and plans to operate approximately 200 container ships capable of using low-carbon fuels by 2031.

“Together with our partners, we have demonstrated that innovation can move from the laboratory to real-world maritime operations. The certification of our first tri-fuel engine vessel marks a significant technological milestone for CMA CGM. It paves the way for the wider use of lower-carbon fuels and offers us new alternatives to accelerate the decarbonization of our shipping operations,” said Christine Cabau Woehrel, Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations at CMA CGM.

Copersucar, the supplier of the ethanol used in the operation, also believes the initiative demonstrates the Brazilian supply chain’s capacity to serve the international maritime market. “This operation demonstrates Copersucar’s ability to connect production, logistics, and the market to enable bioenergy solutions at scale. More than just a pioneering refueling operation, we are establishing the conditions for ethanol to competitively become part of the shipping energy mix,” stated the company’s president, Tomás Manzano.

Alternative fuels

The refueling carried out at the Port of Santos reflects a transformation that is beginning to gain scale in international shipping. With the entry into service of vessels designed to use alternative fuels, shipowners and suppliers are increasing investments in solutions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The *CMA CGM Iron* is part of this new generation of ships. Delivered in 2025, it is the first in a series of twelve 13,000-TEU container ships equipped with a tri-fuel engine certified to operate on ethanol, methanol, and diesel. According to the manufacturer, Everllence, this is the first engine of its kind certified for commercial use.

Bunker One estimates that approximately 70 vessels in the global fleet are currently capable of operating on methanol—and, consequently, on ethanol. The company expects another 400 ships designed to use non-fossil fuels to be delivered by shipyards over the coming years.

“This operation can be considered a milestone in the maritime industry’s global energy transition, as it begins to adapt to this model. Currently, approximately 70 ships in the global fleet can be fueled with methanol and, consequently, with ethanol. However, the forecast is that, in the coming years, another 400 vessels will leave shipyards capable of sailing on non-fossil fuel,” stated Bunker One CEO Flavio Ribeiro.