Vast Infraestrutura and Wilson Sons inaugurate new tugboat berth at Porto do Açu
Structure allows simultaneous berthing of up to four tugboats and will have electrical power supply points for the vessels
Vast Infraestrutura and Wilson Sons inaugurated last Friday, May 3, an electrified berth at the Vast Terminal (T-Oil), at Porto do Açu, in Rio de Janeiro. The structure allows the simultaneous berthing of up to four tugboats, with onshore power supply.
With the installation of the new berth, the tugboats will consume less fuel when on stand-by, as they will be connected to the energy supply source. With the measure, Vast estimates reducing around 7.6% of its scope 3 carbon emissions.
Furthermore, it will be possible to carry out crew changes at the berth, which is located in a fully sheltered area, increasing the safety of the operation. The initiative is part of one of Vast’s decarbonization trails, as the company designed a long-term roadmap for the supply of shore energy at the Terminal, with plans to carry out studies for the future extension of supply to the auxiliary systems of larger vessels, such as support boats and oil tankers.
“The project is part of our journey to consolidate T-Oil as a terminal with lower carbon emissions intensity. The fact that we carry out this project in partnership with Wilson Sons demonstrates our commitment to being strategic partners for the decarbonization of the logistics chain of our customers and suppliers”, says Victor Snabaitis Bomfim, CEO of Vast.
The structure will also increase the availability of tugs and operational efficiency by allowing the vessels to remain in Terminal 1 (T1) of Porto do Açu, where T-Oil is located.
“The use of shore energy by our tugboats, during the periods when we wait for the next maneuver to be carried out, guarantees, on average, a 20% reduction in total scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions from our operations, reaching up to 60% in some locations with lower operational volume. This is the main efficiency measure of our decarbonization agenda, in 2024, which we were able to promote with a simple installation of infrastructure to supply electricity at berthing points in the places where we operate. The partnership with Vast reinforces our strategic commitment to sustainability”, highlights Márcio Castro, executive director of the Tugboats division at Wilson Sons.
In addition to the infrastructure for electricity supply, the berth at Porto do Açu has four bollards (25T SWL – Safe Working Load or Maximum Working Load) with structural reinforcement in the caissons, pneumatic fenders (Yokohama type; Ø2.5m) and a ladder access to the pier with adequate infrastructure to comply with ISPS CODE (International Code for the Security of Ships and Port Facilities) and RFB (Federal Revenue of Brazil).
OTHER INITIATIVES
A leading company in the transshipment market for oil exports in Brazil, Vast carries out several initiatives at its terminal that aim to contribute to the decarbonization of the maritime sector. Since the beginning of its operations, the company has carried out vapor balance between vessels in all oil transshipment operations, preventing the release of around 90% of gases into the atmosphere.
Still in this sense, the company is moving forward with the implementation of the Açu Liquids Terminal (TLA), which can be used by business partners to develop opportunities related to the addition of biocomponents to fossil fuels used in maritime transport. The objective is to consolidate TLA as a supply hub for low-carbon liquid fuels.
In recognition of its measures aimed at decarbonization, Vast won, for the second consecutive year, the GHG Protocol Gold Seal for verifying its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory, which also includes scope 3 emissions.