Vale and Shandong Shipping Partner to Launch Ethanol-Powered Bulk Carriers
Brazilian mining company Vale has entered into a partnership with China's Shandong Shipping Corporation to construct the first large ocean-going vessels designed to use ethanol as a primary fuel. The agreement includes 25-year contracts for two new ships, with an option for additional vessels. These ships are an adaptation of the existing Guaibamax design and are part of a multi-fuel strategy. They will be 340 meters long with a 325,000-tonne capacity and capable of using methanol and heavy fuel oil in addition to ethanol. The design also allows for future conversion to liquefied natural gas or ammonia. This initiative follows previous industry exploration of ethanol as a marine fuel, which is noted for being easier to handle than some toxic and corrosive alternatives. Vale emphasizes that ethanol can reduce carbon emissions by approximately 90 percent compared to heavy fuel oil when using second-generation ethanol. 
