São Luís receives the first mineral vessel in the world to use Vale's air lubrication technology

After launching the ship with rotating sails, Vale brings to São Luís the first mineral ship in the world that uses technology that uses artificial bubbles to reduce CO2 emissions

The Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal, in São Luís, received this week the first mineral ship in the world to have air lubrification technology, which consists of air bubbles produced artificially in the hull of the vessel. The technology was made by Vale and installed on the Sea Victoria, a Guaibamax.

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Mineral ship can transport 325 thousand tons

The mineral ship that arrived in São Luís has the capacity to carry up to 325 tons and has 10 compressors installed on its deck that send air to 20 devices that are positioned underneath, producing a carpet of bubbles.

This technology by Vale will reduce the friction between the hull and the water, reducing fuel consumption and polluting gas emissions, helping Vale to further reduce its CO2 emissions in the maritime sector. Vale's navigation team projects that if the technology works, it could be applied to the entire fleet dedicated to the company's service.

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According to Rodrigo Bermelho, Technical Manager for Navigation, estimates point to a reduction in fuel of around 5 to 8% per mineral vessel. According to calculations, a single vessel has the capacity to reduce emissions of up to 5.600 tons of CO2 per year.

The technology received by the São Luís terminal can be installed in the entire fleet dedicated to Vale's service, with a 4,4% reduction in annual emissions from Vale's iron ore carrier sector.

Executive manager of terminal operations in São Luís speaks

According to Luís Allevato, executive manager of operations at the Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal, Vale is investing in new technologies and research so that operations become increasingly sustainable. The mining company constantly seeks excellence in performance, safety, efficiency and sustainability, whether with the generation of taxes, the prominent position in the world and national port scene or with the generation of job vacancies.

The installation of the technology on the ship that arrived in São Luís was provided by Siverstream, an English manufacturer, and is a project created by Vale's navigation area, together with ITV and the Korean shipowner Pan Ocean.

Responsible for the design of the ship and the bubble system was the Shanghai Ship Design Research Institute. The New Times Shipbuilding shipyard, from China, prepared the ship during its production and the Yiu Lian Dockyards shipyard, was responsible for the technology installation part, which took a little over a month, making the ship ready in 28 of June.

Vale and the first ship with rotating sails

The mining company recently announced the first ore carrier to use rotating spark plugs, which was also built in China and arrived at the port of Yubarão, in Espírito Santo in July.

The vessel has 5 sails distributed in its structure that generate an efficiency of 8% and an annual reduction of 3,4 thousand tons of CO2 per vessel. If the system generates good efficiency, it is projected that at least 40% of the mining company's fleet will be made up of ships of this type, which would bring about a reduction of almost 1,5% of emissions per year in Vale's maritime sector.