Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) Group has announced that MOL Ocean Bulk (MOLOB) has signed a 25-year contract with Vale International to transport iron ore using two newbuild vessels.
As part of Vale’s Shipping decarbonisation strategy, the project will employ the world’s first 210,000 dwt ore carriers equipped with a tri-fuel propulsion system that can run on ethanol, methanol, and conventional HFO. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2030 and will primarily carry out the transoceanic transport of the company’s iron ore.
The vessels are not only equipped with tri-fuel engines but also feature an LNG/ammonia-ready design, enabling the future use of either fuel. In addition, they incorporate a range of energy-saving technologies available for next-generation newbuilding vessels. By providing flexibility in fuel selection according to fuel availability, decarbonisation benefits, and economic considerations, the vessels are able to broaden practical options for reducing GHG emissions in marine transport.
Ethanol could potentially reduce carbon emissions by up to approximately 90% compared with HFO on a full lifecycle basis, from fuel production through consumption. In recent years, it has attracted growing attention as a renewable fuel, and its relative ease of handling is expected to streamline wider adoption in marine fuel applications.
The two vessels will each be 299.95m long, 50m wide, and will be deployed on iron ore transport from Brazil, primarily to China.
Under its Blue Action 2035 Phase 2 environmental vision, the MOL Group aims to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Through the operation of these vessels, the group will move ahead toward achieving its own decarbonisation targets while helping reduce Vale’s marine transport-related Scope 3 emissions.
Image: Contract signing between MOL and Vale (source: Mitsui OSK Lines)
