Vale, one of the world’s leading mining companies, celebrated the maiden arrival of a retrofitted Berge Neblina, a 388,000 deadweight ton (dwt) Valemax iron ore carrier, newly equipped with rotor sails, at its Teluk Rubiah Maritime Terminal in Lumut, Perak. The rotor sails utilize innovative wind-propulsion technology that harnesses wind energy crucial in helping power Valemax’s voyages as it ships iron ore from Brazil to Malaysia and onward to markets in the Asia Pacific region.
As part of a collaboration with Singapore-based shipping firm, Berge Bulk, Berge Neblina was fitted with four rotor sails designed and manufactured by Anemoi Marine Technologies Ltd, a British manufacturer renowned globally for its wind-assisted propulsion for commercial vessels. Each cylindrical mechanical rotor sail takes the shape of large columns, standing at 35 metres high and 5 metres in diameter and rotates at varying speeds, leveraging the renewable power of the wind to provide additional forward thrust, moving the ship in a highly efficient manner.
This allows the bulk carrier to reduce the load of mechanical power demand on the main engine while maintaining speed, thus, lowering fuel consumption and gas emissions. It is expected to save more than 1,000 tonnes of fuel annually and deliver up to 8% carbon reduction.
When in use, the rotor sails are mounted vertically on the deck. They are integrated with a bespoke folding deployment system, which allows them to lie flat when the ship is docked at port, minimizing the impact on air draught and cargo handling operations.
“The maiden arrival of the retrofitted Berge Neblina at the Teluk Rubiah Maritime Terminal (TRMT) marks a significant milestone in conjunction with Vale’s 10th year anniversary in Malaysia. This achievement underscores Vale's ongoing investment in cutting-edge technology that drives both operational efficiency and environmental innovation. It also reaffirms our commitment to decarbonizing the maritime transportation of iron ore while reinforcing TRMT’s and Malaysia’s strategic role as a key distribution hub for Vale in the Asia Pacific region,” said Leonardo Paiva, Chief Executive Officer of Vale in Malaysia.
The inaugural voyage of Berge Neblina to TRMT, which has been designed to handle Valemax, one of the world’s most efficient bulk carriers, adds to its key milestones and achievements spanning over a decade. TRMT is Vale’s first fully automated port and one of the first automated ports in the Asia Pacific region. It is also home to the first autonomous grab ship unloader in Asia and the third in the world, after Hamburg and Rotterdam.
The rotor sail project aligns with Vale’s commitment to reduce maritime emissions by targeting a 15% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2035, in accordance with the Paris Agreement and International Maritime Organization’s decarbonization goals. Scope 3 emissions are defined as indirect emissions that occur in a company’s upstream and downstream supply chain activities.
The implementation of rotor sails is also part of Vale’s wider Ecoshipping Programme, a research and development (R&D) initiative in collaboration with shipowners to employ advanced technologies and modernize its fleet in meeting shared goals towards carbon emission reduction. Berge Neblina which is one such example, is owned by Berge Bulk and operates under a long-term charter to Vale.
This content is provided by Vale Malaysia Minerals.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Interested in having your announcements on Malaysiakini? Contact the announcements team at [email protected] or WhatsApp on +60 17-323 0707 for urgent matters.
