Brazil-headquartered mining company Vale, working in partnership with Oldendorff Carriers, has commenced its first biofuel voyage on a bulk vessel.
The trial is taking place on an Oldendorff vessel, the 209,113 dwt 2016-built Hinrich Oldendorff, performing a laden Vale voyage from Brazil to Asia, carrying a full cargo of iron ore. The vessel then loaded Vale’s iron ore at Guaiba Island Terminal and will consume the blended biofuel on the laden leg from Brazil to Asia.
The B24 biofuel on board is a blend of about 24% used cooking oil of vegetable origin (286t) and the balance is fuel oil. The product supplied is both European Union Renewable Energy Directive (EU RED) compliant and certified by International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC). The expected well-to-wake CO2 equivalent saving will be around 18% or 784t tonnes of CO2 equivalent and will contribute to Vale’s Scope 3 emission reduction.
Using biofuel on the laden voyage is part of the Ecoshipping program, an R&D initiative developed by Vale to reduce the shipping GHG emissions in line with IMO ambitions. The programme is testing and developing solutions for the use of alternative fuels for shipping, in addition to piloting new energy efficiency technologies.
Michelle Gonzalez, GM Vale Chartering, Long-Term Contracts and Operations said: “We are happy to have great shipping partners committed to support our initiatives and make it happen, genuine collaborations and partnerships will be the key of the success.”
Oldendorff Carriers has previously performed biofuel trials on smaller vessels and for shorter voyages, but this will be Oldendorff’s first full voyage consuming biofuel on a Newcastlemax.
Patrick Hutchins, CEO Oldendorff Carriers, said: “We are delighted that Vale has chosen Oldendorff Carriers for their first biofuel voyage. We look forward to investigating further opportunities together with Vale to advance the shipping and mining industries progress in achieving sustainability goals.”
