Brave Pioneer is currently on its maiden voyage which will see it load Western Australian canola bound for Europe. Photo: Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co.

CARGILL has this week announced the maiden voyage of Brave Pioneer, the first of five green methanol dual-fuel dry bulk vessels chartered by the company.

The deployment of the Brave Pioneer is part of Cargill’s broader efforts to decarbonise its supply chain, and its broader goal to create a more sustainable global food system.

Built by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co. and owned by Mitsui & Co., Brave Pioneer is equipped to operate on both conventional marine fuels and green methanol as a lower-carbon alternative.

The estimated CO2 saving of using green methanol compared to conventional fuel is estimated as being up to 70 percent.

The ship is currently on its way from The Philippines to bunker green methanol in Singapore, and will then proceed to CBH Group’s terminal at Kwinana in Western Australia to load canola for February shipment to Europe.

Through Brave Pioneer’s maiden voyage, Cargill will conduct a series of operational trials.

These have been designed to evaluate green methanol bunkering readiness, understand how environmental attributes can be traced and verified through carbon-accounting systems, and assess market appetite for low-carbon freight services.

“Decarbonising global shipping requires a mix of technologies and the willingness to take bold steps before the entire ecosystem is ready,” Cargill’s president of ocean transportation business Jan Dieleman said.

“Technologies like green methanol or wind-assisted propulsion come with uncertainty but as an industry leader, we have a responsibility to test these innovations on the water, share what we learn, and help shape the systems and standards that will enable wider adoption.”

More vessels to come

The launch of Brave Pioneer paves the way for the four additional vessels that will join Cargill’s fleet over the coming years.

The addition of these vessels strengthens Cargill’s multi-solution decarbonisation approach, which includes wind-assisted propulsion, voyage optimisation technologies, energy-efficiency retrofits, and exploration of alternative fuels such as biofuel and ethanol.

“We know the road to low-carbon shipping will require a mix of solutions, and green methanol is one part of that portfolio,” Mr Dieleman said.

“Our new fleet is about optionality and adaptability.

“These vessels are engineered to perform at a best-in-class level on conventional fuel today, while allowing us to switch to greener fuels as availability improves; it’s a practical way to future-proof ocean transport.”

Cargill is one of the world’s largest charterers of dry bulk freight.

Source: Cargill