- Vessel was powered by B100 biofuel from Baton Rouge to Port of Liverpool – reducing the journey’s CO2 emissions by around 90%
- Drax has concluded a new contract with Ultrabulk to March 2031 which contains commitments to lower transport emissions each year
The M.V. Ultra Yorkshire, a Handymax carrier, which was launched and named as part of Drax Power Station’s 50th anniversary celebrations, docked for the first time in the UK.
The vessel is operated by Ultrabulk, a leading global dry bulk business and a long-term partner of Drax Group.
It arrived at the Port of Liverpool in recent weeks, completing its first transatlantic voyage, with a cargo of over 29,000 tonnes of biomass pellets for rail transport to Drax Power Station.
The Selby power station is an important part of UK energy security; it uses biomass pellets to generate renewable power and in 2025 supplied about 5% of the country’s electricity.
Drax Group, the owners of Drax Power Station, is committed to reaching net zero across its value chain by 2040 including by reducing its supply chain emissions, like those from shipping and transportation. In 2024 and 2025, Drax signed agreements for all GB Railfreight and DB Cargo trains to Drax Power Station to run using hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) – estimated to reduce rail freight emissions by 90%.
The Ultra Yorkshire’s journey from the Port of Greater Baton Rouge to the Port of Liverpool, which is owned by Peel Ports Group, was powered by B100 biofuel. Compared to standard maritime fuels, like VLSFO or ULSGO, this meant the vessel emitted around 90% less CO2 over the course of the journey.
Drax has recently signed a new contract with Ultrabulk through to March 2031. The new deal includes a mechanism, possibly one of the first of its kind, to reduce carbon emissions year on year over the course of the agreement from sea freight journeys.
Mark Gibbens, Head of Logistics at Drax Group, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Ultra Yorkshire to the Port of Liverpool on its maiden transatlantic voyage. Ultrabulk is one of our long-standing supply chain partners and they play a critical role in ensuring that Drax Power Station can keep the lights on for millions of homes and businesses across the UK, no matter the weather.
“Our new contract with Ultrabulk shows that we are taking action to decarbonise our supply chain and we are proud that M.V. Ultra Yorkshire was able to complete the journey from Baton Rouge to the Port of Liverpool using biofuel to significantly reduce its impact on the environment.”
Hans-Christian Olesen, CEO of Ultrabulk, said: “Our team is incredibly proud that Drax have chosen to continue their contract with Ultrabulk. Over the years, Drax has proven to be on the cutting edge of environmental transition.
“We have a strong partnership with Drax and we continue working on new ideas with them to transform supply chains. The first B100 transatlantic transport of biomass for both Drax and Ultrabulk, on our own M.V. Ultra Yorkshire, is a great example of this. We are looking forward to jointly keep pushing the boundaries for what is possible in decarbonisation.”
Phil Hall, Mersey Port Director at Peel Ports Group, said: “It’s a proud moment to have welcomed such an impressive vessel to the Port of Liverpool on her first UK visit
“This voyage demonstrates the impact of collaboration in reducing emissions, with the use of B100 biofuel delivering a significant reduction in CO2 emissions on the journey.
“At Peel Ports Group, we are committed to helping our customers achieve more sustainable operations and initiatives like this highlight the positive impact that such partnerships can have across the supply chain.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Additional drone photos and video of Ultra Yorkshire docked at the Port of Liverpool are available on request.
Media contacts:
Andy Low
E: [email protected]
T: 07841 068415
About Drax
Drax’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. Our strategic aims are to be a global leader in both carbon removals and sustainable biomass pellet production, and to be a UK leader in dispatchable, renewable generation.
Our operations
Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low-carbon and renewable UK power assets – biomass, hydro, and pumped storage generation – which provide dispatchable power and system support services to the electricity grid.
We are the UK’s largest source of renewable power by output, and Drax Power Station is the UK’s largest single source of renewable electricity by output.
Through our pellet production facilities in North America, Drax is a leading integrated producer of sustainable biomass. Drax has 18 operational and development pellet production sites which will have a nameplate capacity of around 5.4 million tonnes once expansions are complete.
Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK industrial and commercial customers, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.
About Ultrabulk
Ultrabulk is a leading global dry bulk operator, offering a broad range of shipping services to accommodate customers needs in the Panamax, Supramax and Handysize segments as well as specialized services.
Ultrabulk A/S Denmark is a subsidiary of Ultranav, a privately owned group of shipping companies for over six decades, headquartered in Chile and operating globally with offices in 20 countries.
About Peel Ports Group
Peel Ports Group is the UK’s second largest port operator, owning and operating six of the UK’s most important ports (Liverpool, Heysham, Manchester Ship Canal, Medway (Sheerness / Chatham), Clydeport and East Anglia). It also operates a container terminal in Dublin and owns BG Freight Line, which provides short sea container services between the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe and Peel Ports Logistics, one of the UK’s leading shipping and freight forwarders.
Peel Ports handles approximately 70 million tonnes of cargo every year. 14% of the total UK major ports traffic flows through ports operated by the Group. Headquartered in Liverpool, it employs around 2,000 staff.
