Photograph of the Port of Barcelona.
Sustainable Marine Fuels
Repsol has supplied 2.800 tons of bioethanol to the vessel 'Antonia Maersk' in the Port of Barcelona, in the first operation of its kind at the Catalan hub. The transaction, carried out under commercial conditions, demonstrates the viability of alcohol-based marine fuels for the decarbonization of the sector.
A strategic supply for maritime decarbonization in the Mediterranean
The multi-energy company Repsol and the shipping giant Maersk have successfully completed the first delivery of bioethanol to a container ship in the Port de BarcelonaThe operation, in which funds were transferred 2.800 tons of this renewable fuel to the ship Antonia MaerskIt is not only a pioneer in the Catalan enclave, but also represents one of the first bunkers of its kind in the Mediterráneo.
This milestone demonstrates that both the port infrastructure and the logistics and operational capabilities are ready for the commercial-scale deployment of marine fuels based on alcoholsThe operation also underscores that the value chain is ready to drive the development of similar alternatives, such as methanol, consolidating the multi-energy offering of Repsol and supporting the decarbonization strategies of its maritime sector clients.
The delivery was carried out using the supply vessel. Bahía Candela, the most modern unit in the fleet of Repsol, operated by MureloilA key aspect of the operation was that the Bahía Candela It worked exclusively with his battery system during bunkering, completing the transfer with zero local emissions and thus minimizing the environmental footprint of the process in the Port de Barcelona.
The perspective of key stakeholders
Collaboration between the main actors in the value chain has been fundamental to the success of this initiative. Juan Abascal, CEO of Industrial Transformation and Circular Economy of RepsolHe noted that “with this supply we reaffirm our commitment to the decarbonization of maritime transport through solutions available today and ready to grow in the future. Repsol"We offer shipping companies a reliable supply chain and a multi-energy strategy that combines different renewable fuels to support the sector in a safe, competitive and sustainable transition."
For its part, Maersk It continues to explore ethanol as a viable alternative for its fleet of 23 dual-fuel container ships, designed to operate on methanol. This operation is a continuation of the trials initiated in 2023 with the vessel Laura Maersk (1.800 TEUs). Emma Mazhari, Vice President of Energy Markets of MaerskHe stated: "This new supply to Antonia Maersk This represents another important step in our efforts to explore scalable, low-emission fuel solutions. As the first trial with ethanol on one of our large, dual-fuel vessels with a capacity of 16.000 TEUs, it allows us to further our understanding of the operational potential of ethanol on a large scale.”
El Port de Barcelona It has also played a crucial role. José Alberto CarbonellIts president emphasized that "this operation demonstrates that the Port de Barcelona It is prepared to support the large-scale deployment of new low-carbon fuels, as part of our Energy Transition Plan. Projects like this demonstrate how ports, shipping companies, and energy companies can work together to make the energy transition a reality.”
| Concept | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operations | First supply of bioethanol in the Port de Barcelona |
| Product | Bioethanol |
| Quantity | 2.800 tonnes |
| Receiving Vessel | Antonia Maersk (16.000 TEUs) |
| Supply Ship | Bahía Candela (operated by Mureloil) |
| Environmental Characteristic | Supply with zero local emissions thanks to battery operation |
A scalable model for the future of maritime transport
The successful completion of this operation under real commercial conditions sends a powerful message to the maritime transport sector: alcohol-based fuels, such as bioethanol, are a a viable, efficient and scalable alternativeThe experience gained through this collaboration between Repsol, Maersk, Mureloil and the Port de Barcelona It establishes a practical model that can be replicated in other strategic maritime hubs of the Mediterráneo and the world, accelerating the transition to more sustainable freight transport.
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