Vale said the Sea Victoria, a Guaibamax  vessel which has the capacity to transport up to 325000 mt of iron ore and pellets, has become the first ship to trial the solution at Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal, in São Luís.

There are 10 compressors installed beneath the ship's deck that send air to 20 devices positioned underneath the ship. This reduces the friction between the hull and the water, lowering fuel consumption and, consequently, emissions.

Vale's shipping team estimates that, if it works out, the technology could be replicated in the entire fleet dedicated to the company's service.

"Expectations point to a fuel reduction of around 5 to 8% per ship. In a year, a single vessel would stop emitting up to 5,600 tons of CO2. The technology has the potential to be installed in the entire fleet dedicated to the company's services, with a 4.4% reduction in annual emissions from the maritime transport of iron ore at Vale", explains the technical manager of Vale's Shipping, Rodrigo Bermelho.

The technology was supplied by the English manufacturer Silverstream, as part of a project developed by Vale's navigation area, with the cooperation of the Vale Technological Institute.

"Vale invests in research and technology so that we can operate more and more sustainably. We constantly strive for excellence in performance, efficiency, safety and sustainability. Whether with a prominent position in the national and world port scenario, with the generation of taxes or jobs," said the executive manager of operations at the Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal, Luís Allevato.