Vale Makes First VLOC Port Call at Kashima

Vale Brasil, Image (c) Vale

The Vale Brasil arrived at Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal’s (NSSMC) Kashima port on June 18, marking the first time a VLOC has called on Kashima.

Loaded with 390,000 metric tons of iron ore, Vale notes the Valemax vessel first berthed at the ports of Oita and Kimitsu and then sailed to Kashima to deliver the rest of its cargo (150,000 metric tons).

NSSMC received its first Valemax delivery at Oita in June 2012, while Kimitsu saw its first delivery in January last year.

Utilizing these 400,000 dwt monsters, Vale has so far chalked up So far 355 berthing and un-berthing operations in different ports around the world while delivering 64 million tons of iron ore.  Their current fleet stands a 30.

Port calls have included:

• Ponta da Madeira and Tubarão (Brazil)
• Rotterdam (Netherlands)
• Taranto (Italy)
• Oita, Kimitsu and Kashima (Japan)
• Villanueva (Philippines)
• Gwangyang and Dangjin (Korea)
• Sohar (Oman)
• Vale’s Teluk Rubiah distribution center (Malaysia)
• Dalian and Lianyungang (China)

In addition the ships have lightered at Vale’s two floating transfer stations in Subic Bay, in the Philippines.

Vale notes that due to economy of scale, these ships emit 35 percent less CO2 per ton than conventional Capesize carriers.

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