Everllence Tests Ethanol Marine Engine for Vale VLOC | Mariner News

Everllence has completed research and development testing of a tri-fuel ethanol-capable marine engine designed to power a very large ore carrier (VLOC) chartered by Brazilian mining giant Vale. The engine, tested at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Engine & Machinery Division in South Korea, is slated for installation on the third of ten VLOCs ordered by Shandong Shipping, with delivery expected in early 2027. This vessel is projected to become the world’s first ethanol-powered VLOC.

Built on Everllence’s proven LGIM platform, the ME-LGIMe engine is engineered for versatility, capable of operating on conventional marine fuels, methanol, ethanol, or various blends of methanol and ethanol. This development follows a cooperation agreement signed between Everllence and Vale in February to advance ethanol propulsion.

This tri-fuel capability offers significant operational flexibility, allowing shipowners and charterers to mitigate bunkering risks associated with an emerging alternative fuel. It also provides strategic adaptability to evolving fuel availability and pricing dynamics, bridging the pathways for both methanol and ethanol adoption without committing to a single alcohol-based fuel. Such flexibility can be critical for de-risking investments in new propulsion technologies.

Vale’s commitment to ethanol for its VLOC fleet sends a strong market signal regarding the viability of this fuel for heavy-duty shipping, particularly within the bulk sector. Everllence reports a noticeable increase in interest in ethanol as a marine fuel over the past five years, projecting bulk carriers, tankers, and container vessels as primary markets for the technology.