You are using an outdated browser For a better experience using this site, please upgrade to a modern web browser. Subscribe Get Daily Email Subscribe --> Contact Us Sign in Home News & Features Compliance Costs Bunker Prices Bunker Intelligence World News Latest Features World Americas EMEA Asia/Pacific Home News & Features World Polaris Orders Bulkers Capable of Running on Ethanol and Methanol Polaris Orders Bulkers Capable of Running on Ethanol and Methanol by Ship & Bunker News Team Wednesday August 12, 2026 Tweet Follow @shipandbunker Polaris plans to use ethanol as the primary marine fuel to power the bulkers. Image Credit: Polaris South Korean shipowner Polaris Shipping has signed a contract with Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding and China Shipbuilding Trading Co for four bulk carriers capable of running on ethanol or methanol. The 210,000 DWT Newcastlemax bulk carriers will be fitted with engines developed by WinGD , suitable for running on methanol, ethanol or conventional marine fuels, the company said in a press release last week. The order comes as shipowners explore ethanol as another option alongside methanol. Ship & Bunker has reported several recent ethanol bunkering operations involving methanol-fuelled container ships operated by A.P. Moller-Maersk and CMA CGM . Polaris plans to use ethanol as primary fuel, which it claims can reduce GHG emissions by about 90% compared to heavy fuel oil. The ships will also be fitted with rotor sails for wind-assisted propulsion, along with other energy-saving technologies. Polaris has signed a 25-year transportation contract with Brazilian mining company Vale for the four vessels. These ships are also suitable to conversion to LNG or ammonia propulsion.  Ship & Bunker News Team To contact the editor responsible for this story email us at [email protected] Also in the News Oil Rises As Iran's IRGC Vows "Not A Single Drop" Of Oil Will Transit Hormuz Meanwhile, Trump replaces Hormuz levy propo