Lydia Oldendorff Sets Record
The largest German bulk carrier company Oldendorff Carriers GmbH, which operates around 700 ships, said that its Lydia Oldendorff (207,562 tdw built 2015) has set a record as the largest vessel to load coal at Puerto Bolivar, Colombia.The Newcastlemax vessel has a length of 300 meters and a breadth of 50 meters and was loaded on a trial cargo draft of 17.5 meters. The cargo loaded is destined for Flushing, in the port of Antwerp in Belgium, where it will again be the largest vessel to enter the port.Oldendorff Carriers currently operates a fleet of about 65 modern eco-Newcastlemax (203-211,000 tdw) vessels. Oldendorff Newcastlemax vessels feature fuel saving devices such as…
Changes on BHP Billiton Board
BHP Billiton Chairman, Jac Nasser, today announced a number of changes to the BHP Billiton Board of Directors. Anita Frew has been appointed to the BHP Billiton Board as an independent Non-executive Director, effective as of 15 September 2015. Ms Frew has over 18 years’ experience as a director and chairman on public company boards across a range of global sectors, including chemicals, engineering and finance. She is currently Chairman Designate of Croda International Plc, the speciality chemicals group and Deputy Chairman of Lloyds Banking Group Plc. Mr Nasser said Ms Frew’s appointment reflected the structured and rigorous approach taken by BHP Billiton to Board succession planning…
Brazil's Vale Opens Malaysia Port in Bid to Cut Freight Costs
Brazil's Vale SA on Friday inaugurated a $1.4 billion port in Malaysia able to receive and blend iron ore from its mega-ships, an important step in the miner's battle to cut transportation costs to the crucial Chinese market. Brazil's distance from China - which accounts for nearly 70 percent of the global seaborne market for iron ore - has been a distinct disadvantage in Vale's attempts to compete with closer Australian rivals BHP Billiton Plc and Rio Tinto Plc. The port in Malaysia, as well as the giant ships known as Valemaxes, are part of a plan to address the problem. Its urgency has grown this year as the price of iron ore has tumbled 40 percent. Such a facility is particularly important as a two-year-long ban on Valemaxes docking at Chinese ports remains in force.
Vale’s Valemax Ships Regain Admittance to Asian Ports
Vale SA of Brazil said it has increased access of its Valemax iron ore carriers to Asian ports. The company even docked one of its ships in China where a ban on the giant vessels has been in effect for more than a year, Reuters.com reported. Reuters reported on April 18 that the Vale Malaysia docked at China's port of Lianyungang April 15 and left April 17 after unloading its cargo, but the 402,285 deadweight ton (dwt) ship, one of the world's largest bulk freighters, was only partly loaded. The company hopes the giant ships will help slash costs of shipping ore to China, the world's largest iron ore market and compete with Australian rivals BHP Billiton Plc and Rio Tinto Plc, whose mines are closer to Chinese customers.
