Asyad Shipping and Vale have marked a milestone in sustainable maritime transport with the first call of Sohar Max, the first wind-assisted Valemax vessel, at Oman.
The 400,000-DWT ore carrier delivered iron ore to Vale’s
operations in Sohar, reinforcing the companies’ long-standing partnership on
vessel efficiency and lower-emission transportation.
Owned by Asyad Shipping and leased to Vale, Sohar Max
operates on major trade routes linking Brazil, China and the Middle East.
The vessel is equipped with five 35-metre-high rotor sails
developed by Anemoi Marine Technologies.
The Flettner rotors use the Magnus effect to harness wind
energy, generating additional thrust and reducing fuel consumption.
The sails feature Anemoi’s folding deployment system,
allowing them to be lowered horizontally during port operations or when
navigating under height-restricted structures. This improves vessel clearance
while supporting efficient cargo handling.
The project supports the maritime sector’s broader decarbonisation
goals, including the International Maritime Organisation’s target of cutting
greenhouse-gas emissions from shipping by at least 20 per cent to 30 per cent
by 2030 and reaching net zero by or around 2050.
“We are taking an important step today towards building a
more sustainable future for the shipping sector,” said Dr. Ibrahim Al Nadhairi,
CEO of Asyad Shipping. “The Sohar Max represents a practical model of how
innovative technologies can support Oman’s efforts to achieve net-zero
emissions by 2050, while reducing carbon emissions and enhancing maritime
operational efficiency.”
Nasser Al Azri, CEO of Vale in Oman, said, “Vale’s approach
to decarbonisation extends beyond production to the logistics network that
connects our operations with global markets.”
Since installation in October 2024, independent analysis by
Enerva Marine has recorded main-engine fuel-consumption reductions of 14 per
cent to 31 per cent, with annual fuel-cost savings exceeding $1 million.
The Sohar Max project forms part of six technology pilot agreements between Vale and Asyad Shipping covering four leased vessels, testing technologies including coatings, hydrodynamic devices, energy-management systems and wind-assisted propulsion. -TradeArabia News Service
