Shandong-Da-De

The Port of Tubarão in Vitória received Vale Rio de Janeiro, a Very Large Ore Carrier which is capable of transporting 400,000 metric tons of iron ore. The docking of this vessel marks the first stage in Vale’s project in Espírito Santo to receive the world’s largest ore carriers. Vale has been studying maneuvers by 400,000 metric tonne ships at Tubarão since 2008, with technical support from the Espírito Santo Port Authority. A simulator was used to study ship behavior during maneuvers. In this way, it was possible to learn about and analyze shipping conditions, ensuring that all operations will be safe. This is the third voyage made by Vale Rio de Janeiro, which has so far docked at the ports of Ponta da Madeira, in Maranhão, Brazil; Taranto, in Italy; and Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. After Tubarão, the ship’s destination will be the Port of Sohar in Oman.

Today January 5th around 13:00 hrs one of world’s largest bulkers, the VALE RIO DE JANEIRO is expected at Maaspilot station (Rotterdam) bound for the EECV (Westside), the loaded vessel is after her delivery in September 2011 from the yard sailed to Ponta Da Madeira to load for Rotterdam, the Vale Rio de Janeiro, owned by the Brazilian mining company Vale, is the world's largest bulk carrier and a sister ship of MV Vale Brasil (Photo top) Designed to carry iron ore from Brazil to Asia (primer market China) along the Cape route around South Africa, she is the second of seven 400,000-tonne very large ore carriers (VLOC) ordered by Vale from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine. The Vale Rio de Janeiro is considerably larger than the previous record-holder, Berge Stahl, in every respect. Both her gross tonnage and deadweight tonnage are larger than those of the Norwegian ship, 175,720 and 364,767 tons, respectively. While the draught of both ships is the same, the Vale Brasil is also 20 metres longer and 1.5 metres wider than the Berge Stahl.

With the wounded "Vale Beijing" still anchored about 5 miles off Sao Luis in the Roads, plans are moving forward to load the "Vale Rio de Janeiro". Loading started at PDM Berth 1 at Itqai on Dec 19, 2011, in the afternoon. The vessel is scheduled to load 386,000 mt. The "Vale Italia" is scheduled to Berth 1 to load 390,000 mt, on Dec 21. Plans to load the "Vale China" are uncertain, probably based on what happens with the "Rio" and "Italia" over the next few days. She is scheduled to Berth 1 on Jan 1, 2012.