The Port of Rotterdam recently achieved a milestone by performing its first-ever ethanol bunkering operation. The recipient was the 1,250 TEU container vessel *Eco Levant*, operated by X-Press Feeders. This vessel, which joined the fleet in 2024, has since been running on a dual-fuel blend of ethanol and methanol.
The bunkering involved a specific fuel composition: 90% ISCC EU-certified bio-methanol and 10% ISCC EU-certified second-generation ethanol. Both fuels were delivered separately by an inland bunker vessel and then blended onboard the *Eco Levant* under carefully monitored conditions.
For freight forwarders and logistics professionals, this event signals the growing availability and operationalization of alternative marine fuels. While ethanol bunkering is still nascent, its successful implementation in a major European port like Rotterdam indicates a potential shift in fuel options for certain vessel types. This could eventually lead to more diverse and sustainable shipping routes, though widespread adoption and infrastructure development will take time. Forwarders should monitor such developments as they could influence future vessel choices, emissions regulations, and potentially, long-term freight costs related to green fuel premiums.
