Brazilian mining group Vale has expanded the flexibility of its iron ore shipping operations, especially to mainland ports, after taking delivery of a ship that is capable of loading and unloading other ships at sea.
The 280,815 deadweight tonne Ore Fabrica was delivered by Jiangsu Xinrong Shipyard, part of the mainland's largest ship building company, China State Shipbuilding Corporation, yesterday, after conversion into a floating transshipment vessel.
The 322-metre-long vessel has been equipped with a cargo handling system that includes hoppers and five cranes, together with new generators, upgraded electrical systems and improved crew accommodation. The conversion cost 100 million yuan (HK$123 million).
The shipyard confirmed the vessel belonged to Seamar Shipping, an offshoot of Vale, and sailed from its Xingang base yesterday.
The ship was heading for Subic Bay in the Philippines, where it was expected to arrive on February 2. The vessel will be joined by two very large ore carriers, the 400,606-deadweight-tonne Vale China and the 402,347-dwt Vale Brazil, which are owned by Vale.
Vale and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority signed an agreement in September to set-up a specially designed floating transshipment facility that will transfer iron ore from these ultra-large vessels into smaller ships that can enter more ports in China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.