Berge Bulk wraps up carbon-offset voyage with Emporos

Dry bulk shipowner Berge Bulk and carbon-neutral freight trader Emporos have completed a carbon offset voyage, transporting 29,095 tonnes of cargo from Darrow, Louisiana, USA to Puerto Montt, Chile.

The cargo of corn gluten meal was carried by Berge Bulk’s 37,687 dwt Handysize vessel, the Berge Scafell Pike, highlighting the company’s commitment to investing in climate impact.

The voyage, which commenced on February 27, 2024, consumed 577 tonnes of fuel, resulting in 1,800 tonnes of carbon emissions.

To offset the environmental impact of the voyage, Berge Bulk and Emporos utilized carbon credits from the Cordillera Azul REDD+ Project, a forest protection project in Peru. The credits were purchased on the Climate Impact X (CIX) Marketplace and retired to offset the voyage emissions.

The Cordillera Azul National Park REDD+ Project protects 1,351,964 hectares of central Peru’s lowland and mountain forests against deforestation. The project area is home to more than 6,000 different species of plants and 1,000 different species of animals.

“We are proud to partner with clients like Emporos, who share our values and understand the importance of taking voluntary climate action today. We look forward to initiating more carbon offset voyages with other like-minded partners in the future,” Duncan Bond, Chief Commercial Officer, Berge Bulk, commented.

“Emporos proudly upholds environmental consciousness as one of our core principles. We’re excited to announce our collaboration with Berge Bulk to deliver carbon offset voyages for cargoes through our carrier network. This partnership, rooted in shared values, paves the way for a more sustainable future in dry bulk trading,” Claas Grafe, CEO of Emporos, said.

This news follows a string of other decarbonization efforts announced by Berge Bulk in recent months.

In October 2023, Berge Bulk unveiled four BARTech WindWings on Newcastlemax vessel Berge Olympus. The WindWings installation is part of Berge Bulk’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2025.

In March 2024, Berge Bulk ordered two ammonia-fueled bulkers to be delivered in 2027.

Last week, the company introduced a new vessel, the Berge Mauna Kea, the first of four hyper-efficient sister ships being delivered by Imabari Shipbuilding throughout 2024. In addition, Berge Bulk has also made a commitment to plant 25 million trees by 2026.

“Of course, the optimal scenario involves transporting cargo using a zero-emissions vessel, powered by non-hydrocarbon fuel. With our recent announcements about our commitment to wind technology and ammonia-powered ships, we believe we can get there soon. But in the meantime, investing in high quality carbon credits from impactful forestry projects like Cordillera Azul is an important way that we can take climate action today,” James Marshall, Berge Bulk’s Founder and CEO, emphasized the importance of taking immediate climate action, stating.

“We are proud to be working with an innovator in the shipping industry on their climate change strategy. Berge Bulk’s focus on using quality carbon credit projects as one part of their initiatives and pathway to reach zero emissions fleetwide by 2050 demonstrates the leadership and action we all need to address the urgency of climate change,” Mikkel Larsen, CEO, Climate Impact X, added.

Along the journey to a zero-emissions fleet by 2050, Berge Bulk has made a voluntary commitment to offset 100% of their scope-1 CO2 emissions from fuel consumed on Berge Bulk vessels from 2025 onward.

“This means that for every tonne of CO2 that our vessels emit, we will be retiring a one-tonne carbon credit to offset it,” Marshall explained.

Berge Bulk has already made substantial progress towards this 2025 commitment, having offset 25% of its fuel emissions in 2022 and 2023, in addition to offsetting all emissions from its office electricity and air travel for the past two years.

The company currently owns, operates and manages a fleet of 90 fuel-efficient vessels, equating to more than 15 million dwt.