Polaris Orders Bulkers Capable of Running on Ethanol and Methanol

The 210,000 DWT Newcastlemax bulk carriers will be fitted with engines developed by WinGD, suitable to running on methanol, ethanol or conventional marine fuels, the company said in a press discharge last week.

The order comes as shipowners explore ethanol as another option alongside methanol.

Ship & Bunker has reported several recent ethanol bunkering operations involving methanol-fuelled container ships operated by A.P. Moller-Maersk and CMA CGM.

Polaris plans to consumption ethanol as primary fuel, which it claims can minimize GHG releases by about 90% compared to heavy fuel oil.

The ships will also be fitted with rotor sails to wind-assisted propulsion, along with other energy-saving technologies.

Polaris has signed a 25-year transportation contract with Brazilian mining company Vale to the four vessels.

These ships are also suitable to conversion to LNG or ammonia propulsion.