Chinese yard to build world's first ethanol-powered ore carrier for Vale

Shandong Shipping Corporation, a Chinese state-owned shipping company, has signed an agreement with Brazilian mining giant Vale to build what the Northeast China-based shipbuilder says will be the world's first ocean-going vessels powered primarily by ethanol.

Shandong Shipping released no information about the contract but according to a statement issued by Vale, the two second-generation GuaibaMax vessels, each 340 meters long with a capacity of 325,000 tonnes, are scheduled for delivery starting in 2029 under 25-year contracts. Compared to conventional heavy fuel oil, ethanol can