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The Iron Ore Ship Now Docked in Rio de Janeiro, on the South Coast of Fluminense, Is Equipped with State-of-the-Art Rotating Sail Technology
The world’s first iron ore ship, equipped with a rotating sail system, was received last Tuesday, 11, at the south coast of Rio de Janeiro. The system mounted on the ships allows for greater use of wind power, thereby increasing the vessel’s efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, according to the website.
The ore vessel is located at the Guaíba Island Terminal (TIG), with a capacity of 325 thousand tons and operated by Vale, in Mangaratiba, on the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Named “Sea Zhoushan,” the ship was received at the facilities in Rio de Janeiro after modifications made at the end of 2022.
What Are the Rotating Sails on the Ore Vessels in Rio de Janeiro?
The rotating sails on the vessels recently docked in Rio de Janeiro are cylindrical rotors, each 24 meters high, equivalent to a 7-story building. During the operation of the ships in Rio de Janeiro, the rotors move in a circular motion at different speeds, depending on the environmental and operational conditions of the ship, creating a pressure difference that propels the vessel forward.
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According to Vale’s Naval Engineering Manager, Rodrigo Bermelho: “There are five sails installed along the vessel that bring an efficiency gain of up to 8% and a consequent reduction of up to 3,400 tons of CO2 equivalent per ship per year.” So far, the vessel has completed 5 iron ore trips since July 2021, with ore produced by Vale.
The iron ore ship in Rio de Janeiro is the world’s first to use a rotating sail system, achieving an energy efficiency gain of up to 8%, thereby reducing carbon emissions.
Iron Ore Vessel Technology Is a Success
According to Bermelho, the technology present on the ore ships in Rio de Janeiro has proven to be successful in tests and has stimulated partnerships and new projects. As he explains: “Vale recently entered the market, for example, with a request for long-term contracts for an innovative project with new Guaibamax ships equipped with rotor sails and powered by biofuel, allowing the use of methanol as an alternative to bunker.”
The combination of these two technologies has great potential to reduce approximately 23% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to the current generation of ships. Additionally, the ship was designed with flexibility so that, in the future, the iron ore vessel can be retrofitted with a tank and systems to use liquefied natural gas or ammonia, should those fuels become a better option in terms of cost.
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