World’s First Ethanol-Powered VLOC Moves Closer to Reality as Everllence Clears G80 Engine Test
Everllence has successfully tested and verified the G80 ME-LGIMe ethanol-capable two-stroke engine intended for the third vessel in Shandong Shipping’s ten-ship Guaibamax program for Vale. The engine completed R&D testing at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine & Machinery division in South Korea and can operate on fuel oil, methanol, ethanol, or blends of methanol and ethanol. Everllence now says the vessel is scheduled for early 2027 delivery, potentially putting a 325,000-dwt ethanol-capable VLOC into service considerably earlier than previously expected.
Ethanol VLOC Snapshot
A methanol-ready Guaibamax program is now becoming a real-world test of how far one alcohol-fuel engine platform can stretch.
R&D testing was completed at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Engine & Machinery in Korea.
Everllence says the engine will go into the third ship of Shandong Shipping's ten-VLOC series.
Designed primarily for Vale's long-haul iron ore transportation system.
Methanol and ethanol can also be blended rather than requiring a binary fuel decision.
Vale's estimate applies to second-generation ethanol compared with heavy fuel oil.
The Ethanol VLOC Timeline Just Accelerated
The technology has moved from a laboratory engine to an identified commercial ship in roughly one year.
| Date | Milestone | Technology Position | Commercial Meaning | Remaining Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2025 Fleet contract |
10 VLOCS Vale signs 25-year charters with Shandong Shipping for ten 325,000-dwt Guaibamax vessels. |
Methanol / fuel-oil dual-fuel propulsion with future flexibility built into the vessel design. | Creates a standardized ten-ship platform that can absorb later fuel developments without starting from a completely new vessel design. | Which ships in the series ultimately receive additional fuel capabilities? |
| Sept. 2025 Engine test |
ETHANOL RUN Everllence successfully operates a 90-bore ME-LGIM engine on ethanol across all load points. |
Testing indicates the existing liquid-gas-injection methanol platform can also combust ethanol. | Reduces the amount of completely new engine architecture needed to introduce ethanol. | Full-scale ship application and fuel-system optimization. |
| Feb. 2026 Development |
VALE + EVERLLENCE Formal cooperation agreement targets G70 and G80 ethanol-capable engine development. |
Ethanol development moves from general R&D toward Vale's actual newbuilding program. | Creates a direct path between engine testing and one of the world's largest dry-bulk charter programs. | Final ship selection and test validation. |
| April 2026 Dedicated ships |
2029 PLAN Vale announces two ethanol-primary Guaibamax vessels under separate 25-year arrangements with Shandong. |
Ships designed for ethanol, methanol and bunker fuel, with additional retrofit pathways. | Establishes ethanol as an intended primary marine fuel rather than simply an engine-test fuel. | Whether an earlier vessel could demonstrate the technology first. |
| Sept. 2, 2026 R&D verified |
G80 VERIFIED Everllence completes testing of the G80 ME-LGIMe engine at HHI-EMD. |
Fuel oil, methanol, ethanol and methanol/ethanol blends are supported. | Hardware is now assigned to the third ship in the existing ten-vessel program. | Sea trials and actual commercial ethanol bunkering. |
| Early 2027 Vessel delivery |
LATEST TARGET Everllence's current schedule for the third Shandong Shipping VLOC. |
Potential world's-first commercial ethanol-capable VLOC. | Could move real-world ethanol capability roughly two years ahead of Vale's previously announced 2029 dedicated ships. | Will ethanol be available for the ship's initial commercial voyages? |
Ethanol vs Methanol Fuel Mass, Tank Volume & Cost Analyzer
Convert a conventional oil-fuel voyage into energy-equivalent ethanol and methanol requirements and compare tank volume, bunker cost and lifecycle-emission scenarios.