Iron Ore Carrier News

An interim report from an ongoing Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has detailed the sequence of events of a loaded iron ore carrier’s grounding in a channel while departing Port Hedland, Western Australia in 2022.The interim report details factual information but contains no analysis or findings.In the early hours of April 9, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Hagen Oldendorff departed its berth at Port Hedland, with a harbour pilot onboard. About 50 minutes after departure…

The Japanese-owned bulk carrier that ran aground off Mauritius and spilled oil over pristine waters and fragile coral reefs diverted more than 100 kilometers from a regular shipping lane, data from a maritime analysis firm showed.The MV Wakashio, owned by Nagashiki Shipping and chartered by Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, struck a coral reef on Mauritius's southeast coast on July 25 and later began leaking oil. Two of the ship's officers have since been arrested on charges of endangering…

Japanese shipping giant Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has placed an order for a 210,000 dwt bulk carrier at compatriot shipbuilder, Japan Marine United Corporation.The 108,900 gross ton vessel is being built for a consecutive voyage contract with JFE Steel and will be used to ship iron ore and coal. The newbuild is due for delivery in fiscal year 2021.The main features of this vessel will comply with NOx emission regulations (Tier III) and be equipped with SOx scrubber that removes SOx from the exhaust gas for complying with SOx emission regulations that will be enforced worldwide from January 2020.This vessel is also an energy-saving type that achieves both increased cargo weight and reduced fuel consumption compared to conventional ships…

Attacks in waters east of Philippines shift to big ships; ReCAAP, security groups recommend avoiding Sulu and Celebes Seas. Asian pirates are focusing more of their attacks on larger merchant ships near the Philippines, hoping for bigger ransom payments from kidnapping their crew, the head of a regional anti-piracy body said on Friday. The region's pirates have changed tactics since October, to target some of the biggest ships travelling through the Sulu and Celebes Seas, and paying less attention to small tugs and fishing boats. The growing problem has prompted Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to step up air and sea patrols in the waters, through which about $40 billion worth of cargo passes each year.

The Sulu Sea between eastern Malaysia and the Philippines has become dangerous for merchant shipping due to rising threat of kidnappings, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said on Tuesday. The Sulu archipelago is a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, an al-Qaeda linked group notorious for kidnappings and, increasingly, piracy. The IMB report was released just hours after armed men attacked a fishing boat, killing eight fishermen, in what appeared to be a pirate attack off the southern Philippines. IMB said global sea kidnappings rose three-fold in 2016, even as global piracy hit its lowest level in nearly 20 years. Pirates kidnapped 62 people for ransom in 15 separate incidents in 2016.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced that the company conducted a tabletop drill based on a scenario in which an iron ore carrier, managed by its group ship management company, collided with a breakwater, leaving it stranded in the Port of Kashima. The drill was held on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, with the goal of strengthening the company emergency response structure, which is based on the MOL Group Corporate Principles — nurture and protect the natural environment by maintaining the highest standards of operational safety and navigation. The exercise was also designed to ensure that the company can respond swiftly and appropriately in case of a serious marine incident, and maintain the timely flow of accurate information.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced that on October 27, a naming ceremony for the Shinzan Maru, a newbuilding iron ore carrier that will sail under a long-term transport contract with Kobe Steel, Ltd., was held at the Hiroshima Shipyard of Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Among those on at the ceremony were Kobe Steel Chairman, President, CEO, and Representative Director Mr. Hiroya Kawasaki, who named the new vessel. Thereafter his wife cut the rope. Shinzan Maru is an established name for vessels transporting raw materials to Kobe Steel that dates back to the era of Yamashita-Shinnihon Steamship Co., Ltd. (YSL), one of MOL’s predecessors. The new vessel is the third generation to sail under the Shinzan Maru name, and will ensure a stable transportation of iron ore for Kobe Steel.

MOL President, President, Koichi Muto reported that the performance of the company was slack. Muto reported, "I am sad to report that our business performance fell short, and we could not achieve our initial target of ¥70 billion in consolidated ordinary income. Looking back at FY2014, the containership business could not achieve our targets despite the favorable winds of a depreciating yen and lower bunker prices. This was due to factors including inaccurate projections regarding the trade environment, freight rate market, and bunker prices, as well as construction delays in our terminal automation project, and led to a significant loss. In addition, repeated downward revisions of our forecasts have eroded shareholders’ trust in our company.

Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd. today announced receipt of the 2014 Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers (JASNAOE) Award for development of a waste heat energy recovery system for marine diesel engine used to generate electric power and assist ship propulsion. The system was installed on a MOL-operated large-scale iron ore carrier. The award was made in ceremonies held in Sendai International Center, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, on May 26, 2014. The system was jointly developed by MOL, Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

It all began with a pre-World War II contract between China's then "ship king" and a Japanese company to lease two Chinese freighters. When the one-year lease was up in 1937, the ships were nowhere to be found. That year also marked the start of a full-scale war between China and Japan. And so began a protracted legal case which came to a head last weekend, when a Chinese court ordered the seizure of an iron ore carrier owned by the successor to the original Japanese company in compensation for the loss of the two Chinese vessels. The impoundment has created unease in Japan's government, which warns that the action could affect Japanese businesses in China. It remains unclear whether the sudden ruling by the Shanghai Maritime Court would herald the seizure of more Japanese assets.

It all began with a pre-World War Two contract between China's then "ship king" and a Japanese company to lease two Chinese freighters. When the one-year lease was up in 1937, the ships were nowhere to be found. That year also marked the start of a full-scale war between China and Japan. And so began a protracted legal case which came to a head last weekend, when a Chinese court ordered the seizure of an iron ore carrier owned by the successor to the original Japanese company in compensation for the loss of the two Chinese vessels. The impoundment has created unease in Japan's government, which warns that the action could affect Japanese businesses in China. It remains unclear whether the sudden ruling by the Shanghai Maritime Court would herald the seizure of more Japanese assets.

Reuters - Brazil's Vale SA will launch in March the first phase of its iron ore storage and distribution center in Malaysia that will improve its access to China, its biggest customer, a company official said on Tuesday. The world's top iron ore miner, whose huge Valemax vessels are banned from Chinese ports, built the Malaysian terminal to better compete with Australian rivals Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. The 400,000-deadweight metric ton (dwt) vessels, the world's biggest bulk carriers…

Federal Maritime Commissioner William P. Doyle addressed attendees of the Center For Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Arctic Maritime Awareness seminar on September 27, 2013. The seminar, held at the Finnish Embassy in Washington, DC, was attended by representatives with Arctic interests and featured the Finnish Ambassador to the United States, the Finnish Minister of Transport, the General Director of the Finnish Transport Agency, the head of the Economic Section for the Russian Embassy and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Deputy Commandant for Operations.

Thanks to its unique depth, the largest vessels in the world will be moored in the port of Rotterdam this week. On Friday , August 16, all attention will focus on the first visit of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller. With a capacity of 18,000 TEU (twenty-foot containers), a length of 399 meters and a width of 59 metres, this vessel is by far the largest container ship in the world. At that moment, a few other massive ships will be present in the port. The Ti Europe will be moored at Dolphins 80 in the Calandkanaal.

Ore Salvador will Sail under long-term transport contract with Vale International S.A. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced completion of the 297,000-ton iron ore carrier Ore Salvador at Japan Marine United Corporation’s Ariake Shipyard. MOL will operate the ship under a long-term contract, transporting ore from Vale S.A. of Brazil. Among those on hand for the naming and delivery ceremonies were Vale International Director Gurinder Singh, who named the vessel, Japan Marine United Corporation President Shinjiro Mishima and MOL President Koichi Muto.

Iron ore carrier 'Berge Java', chartered by Vale, will discharge its cargo, for company customer ArcelorMittal, in the Port of Rotterdam. The Berge Jaya, chartered by Vale, is scheduled to berth at Rotterdam's EMO dry bulk terminal this week. This is the second voyage of the vessel, built by Chinese shipyard Bohai. The Valemax ship has a capacity to transport up to 400,000 tons of iron ore and allows for 35% less carbon emission per ton of ore transported compared to earlier generation ships. The Valemax vessels have regularly berthed at the European ports of Taranto and Rotterdam.

Greek shipowners order construction of  iron-ore carriers in the belief that the 5-year charter-rate slump is coming to an end. The companies ordered 12 Capesizes last quarter, the most since the beginning of 2008, according to data from Golden Destiny SA, a shipbroker in Piraeus, Greece, cited by 'Ekathimerini'. Ship prices plunged to the lowest in almost a decade in 2012 and charter rates tumbled 99 percent since 2008. Construction costs are now so low that owners will probably order $250 billion of new vessels by 2016…

Two SB-138P polyethylene buoys with solar-powered ML-140 LED lanterns from Tideland Signal are being used to mark wrecks in the approaches to the port of Narvik in the far north of Norway. The new SB-138P buoys are replacing old battery-operated steel buoys from the 1980s that required extensive maintenance and costly battery changes. They are wreck-markers for the British 8770 ton iron- ore carrier Romanby and the Swedish 8,855-ton iron-ore carrier Stråssa, both sunk in Narvik inner harbor during a World War II battle on April 10, 1940.

The largest vessels in the world will be moored in the port of Rotterdam in the next 7 days, thanks to the port's deep-draft facilities. On Friday 16 August, all attention will focus on the first visit of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller. With a capacity of 18,000 TEU (twenty-foot containers), a length of 399 metres and a width of 59 metres, this vessel is by far the largest container ship in the world. The Ti Europe will be moored at Dolphins 80 in the Calandkanaal. With a length of 380 metres and width of 69 metres, this white tanker is the largest oil tanker in the world still in operation (420,000 dwt). In addition, the Vale Rio is expected at EMO in the Mississippihaven. This ship, the largest iron ore vessel in the world, measures 362 metres by 65 metres.

Reuters is reporting that the damaged Vale Beijing, the world's largest iron-ore carrier, was moved from its berth in Brazil for repairs. Tugs reportedly moved the ship from the dock in the port in Sao Luis in northeastern Brazil and will tow it to a location outside the shipping channel, a harbor pilot official told Reuters. The port in northeastern Brazil is operated by Vale. The 384,300 tons of ore loaded aboard the Vale Beijing, was mined by Vale at its giant Carajas complex in the Amazon region. The ship reportedly has a crack in its ballast tanks, though the source of the crack -- operational or structural -- is not yet known. (Source: Reuters)

Tokyo—Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. announced the completion of the 297,000-ton iron ore carrier Ore Sao Luis at the Universal Shipbuilding Corporation, Ariake Shipyard. The Ore Sao Luis will transport iron ore from Brazil mainly to China, under a long-term contract with Vale.   Among those on hand for the naming and delivery ceremonies were Vale International General Manager, Shipping, Pietro Allevato, who named the vessel, and Universal Shipbuilding Director and Senior Managing Officer Kuniteru Ishikawa. The ship’s name is derived from the capital and largest city in Maranhão state in Brazil. MOL operates a class of six 300,000 DWT VLOCs in total, including Ore Sao Luis.

'Valemax' iron ore carrier 'Berge Aconcagua' docks in Japan's Oita Port, a first for this type of ship According to '4-Traders', Brazilian mining company Vale SA informed that its Valemax iron ore vessel--one of seven large iron ore carriers currently operated by Vale--docked in Japan for the first time. The vessel, named the Berge Aconcagua, transported ore to Oita port for Nippon Steel Corporation (NSC). Valemax vessels can carry 400,000 metric tons of iron ore. Vale has encountered difficulties docking Valemax vessels in China--where several of the vessels are being built--due to resistance from Chinese shipowners and alleged port handling capacity problems.

Iron-Ore carrier daily rates rebound as China spends US$158-billion. Iron-ore ships are poised to earn more than operating costs for the first time this year as rates rally on speculation Chinese steel mills will accelerate imports because of a 1 trillion-yuan ($158 billion) building program, reports Bloomberg Business News. Capesizes, each carrying 160,000 metric tons of ore, will earn $12,500 a day in the fourth quarter, according to the median of eight analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg, compared with $4,459 on average since the end of June as assessed by the Baltic Exchange. Source: Bloomberg