wiredinUSA January 2012

INDEX

Mega ships in Asia

Reuters Freightviews reported that one of Brazilian mining giant Vale’s huge iron ore carriers, the world’s biggest, was scheduled to arrive fully-loaded in Asia for the first time in mid-December, with a stop in Singapore. The 388,000-tonne Berge Everest, which has been leased to Vale, was expected to arrive in Singapore on 15 th December though its ultimate destination was unknown. Vale’s main market, China, has yet to give these ships access to domestic ports, forcing the world’s largest iron ore

producer to send its vessels instead to Italy, Oman and other destinations. The vessel’s arrival also comes amid rising safety concerns after a similar vessel, Vale Beijing, became disabled before setting sail on its maiden voyage. The Berge Everest, built by China’s Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, is one of six mega-bulk ships to be delivered to Vale in 2011. The company plans a fleet of up to 35 mega-bulk vessels to sharply cut the cost of delivering ore to China.

wiredInUSA - January 2012

11