South Korean shipowner Polaris Shipping has ordered four large bulk carriers designed to run on ethanol or methanol, according to Ship & Bunker.
The order was placed with Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding and China Shipbuilding Trading Co, Ship & Bunker reports. The vessels will be 210,000 DWT Newcastlemax bulk carriers, a class commonly used in long-haul dry bulk trades such as iron ore transport.
Multi-Fuel Engines and Wind Assistance
According to Ship & Bunker, the newbuilds will be equipped with engines developed by WinGD that can operate on methanol, ethanol, or conventional marine fuels. Polaris has stated its intention to use ethanol as the primary fuel source for these ships, the report notes.
Ship & Bunker states that Polaris claims ethanol use can cut greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 90% compared to heavy fuel oil, though the report does not specify the methodology behind that figure.
The vessels will also feature rotor sails for wind-assisted propulsion, along with additional unspecified energy-saving technologies, as reported by Ship & Bunker. Notably, the report adds that the ships are also designed to allow for future conversion to LNG or ammonia propulsion, giving Polaris flexibility as fuel markets and regulations evolve.
Long-Term Cargo Commitment
The order is tied to a 25-year transportation contract Polaris has signed with Brazilian mining company Vale, according to Ship & Bunker. The report does not disclose additional financial or delivery timeline details for the newbuildings.
Ship & Bunker also notes that this order comes amid wider industry interest in ethanol as a marine fuel option alongside methanol, pointing to recent ethanol bunkering operations involving methanol-fuelled container ships operated by A.P. Moller-Maersk and CMA CGM.
Does This Matter to You?
This development may be of interest to those tracking the diversification of marine fuel options in the dry bulk sector, particularly as ethanol emerges as a potential alternative alongside methanol and ammonia. Vessel operators and charterers monitoring long-term fuel strategy shifts in bulk shipping may find the dual-fuel flexibility and future conversion capability of these ships relevant to broader newbuild design trends.
The source material does not provide details on planned bunkering infrastructure, fuel availability, or specific ports where these vessels will operate, so the direct operational impact on bunkering markets is not yet clear from this report.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
