The Brazilian mining corporation Vale has signed a contract with Shandong Shipping Corporation from China for the construction of the world’s first large ocean-going Guaibamax vessels that will use ethanol as their primary fuel.
This is reported by Finway
Environmental Innovations in Maritime Transport
The agreement includes the construction of two vessels with the option to expand the fleet further. The new Guaibamax will be equipped with versatile engines that can operate not only on ethanol but also on methanol and heavy fuel oil. The design also allows for retrofitting to use liquefied natural gas or ammonia, paving the way for flexible use of alternative fuels in the future.
The second-generation Guaibamax vessels will be outfitted with five rotor sails to harness wind energy, significantly enhancing energy efficiency. Additionally, the project incorporates innovative solutions: improved engines, hydrodynamic devices, shaft generators, frequency converters, and specialized silicone coatings.
Reducing Emissions and the Vale Ecoshipping Program
The company emphasizes that the use of ethanol, particularly second-generation ethanol, allows for a reduction in carbon emissions by approximately 90% compared to heavy fuel oil. In addition to maritime transport, Vale is testing the use of ethanol in its logistics operations – on trucks at its facilities and on locomotives of the Vitória-a-Minas Railway (EFVM).
“Using ethanol as fuel on vessels transporting ore, combined with the use of rotor sails to harness wind energy, gives Vale a unique opportunity for an energy transition in global shipping over the coming decades, while also stimulating similar initiatives in this sector,” said Vale’s shipping director Rodrigo Bermelho.
The new generation of ethanol-powered vessels will complement ten vessels that will operate on methanol and heavy fuel oil, which will be supplied by Shandong Shipping Corporation for Vale starting in 2027.
According to the company’s estimates, the implementation of new technologies will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 15% compared to the current Guaibamax vessels. All these solutions are being tested under the Vale Ecoshipping program, aimed at implementing innovations in sustainable shipping.