The Ubuntu Liberty, the last of Anglo American’s 10-strong chartered fleet of Capesize+ Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) dual-fuelled bulk carriers, has been delivered
The vessel’s maiden voyage consists of travelling from China to Saldanha Bay, South Africa, in order to collect a cargo of high-quality iron ore. This will mark the successful delivery of all 10 ships of the fleet which have been built together with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding across the last three years.
According to the leading mining global company, the Ubuntu fleet is a key component of its ambition to achieve carbon neutrality for its controlled ocean freight by 2040. Offering an estimated 35% reduction in emissions compared to conventionally-fuelled ships, the LNG dual-fuelled vessels have already moved 6.4mn tonnes of iron ore and steelmaking coal across global shipping routes since the first vessel was loaded in early 2023.
Achieving sustainable shipping
“Launching the final vessel of our Ubuntu fleet is a very large manifestation of our commitment to more sustainable shipping,” remarked Matt Walker, CEO of Anglo American’s marketing business. “This milestone is a testament to our dedication to a sustainable path forward for our controllable ocean freight, ensuring the delivery of essential resources to our customers around the world while minimising our environmental footprint. It also puts us in a market-leading position as the charterer of the largest LNG dual-fuelled Capesize+ fleet in the world.
“By adopting more sustainable and lower carbon fuel options like LNG, we are actively contributing to a cleaner, greener future for the maritime industry. Our customers have shown keen interest in accessing our Ubuntu freight, demonstrating growing recognition of the value of sustainable shipping as part of a more sustainable supply chain that end consumers increasingly expect.”
