Large Ore Carrier News

Avikus, HD Hyundai's autonomous navigation in-house startup, has verified that its autonomous navigation system is capable of reducing fuel use by as much as 15%, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 10%.The fuel savings were quantified on a 325,000-ton very large ore carrier (VLOC) operating several times on a 5,800-mile route from Singapore to Brazil using Avikus’ autonomous HiNAS Control system.The verification of this performance was conducted through procedures that were jointly developed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and Avikus…

Lloyd’s Register granted Approval in Principle (AIP) for an SDARI (Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute) designed 210,000 DWT Newcastlemax bulk carrier installed with Anemoi Rotor Sails.The Newcastlemax AIP is part of a joint development project signed in 2020 with Anemoi Marine Technologies, Lloyd’s Register, and SDARI. Oldendorff Carriers is the shipowner partner for this Newcastlemax design"This has been an important project as part of Oldendorff Carriers’ commitment towards Getting to Zero," said Torsten Barenthin, Director Innovation, Oldendorff Carriers.

Despite the very strong freight rates and the apparently tight market, the all-important driver for dry bulk shipping, China, has in fact seen imports of its two largest dry bulk commodities shrink year-on-year so far this year. The two largest imported commodities for China, iron ore and coal are however, interestingly on two different trajectories, as the latter could be ending the year with higher total volumes than in 2020.“The high freight rates that the dry bulk market is currently enjoying cannot directly be linked to higher volumes from the world’s largest dry bulk importer.

Brazilian miner Vale expects to soon put into service the first-ever bulk carrier propelled partially sails, the company said on Thursday.The rotor sail-equipped newbuild, a very large ore carrier (VLOC) named Sea Zhoushan, is being built in China for owner by Pan Ocean Ship Management and will be chartered by Vale upon delivery in the coming days. Not only is Sea Zhoushan the first bulk carrier to be fitted with rotor sails, the 340-meter, 325,000 dwt vessel is also the largest ship ever to be outfitted with the fuel-saving and emissions-reducing technology…

Grand Wisdom, the second very large ore carrier (VLOC) to join the U-Ming Marine Transport fleet, has been delivered with a protective hull coating from Nippon Marine Paint’s A-LF Sea product range.Delivered in December from Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry’s shipyard in Qingdao, China, Grand Wisdom is the second in a pair of eco-friendly bulkers to join the owner’s 48-strong fleet. Sister ship Grand Pioneer, delivered in August, represented the Taipei-headquartered shipowner’s entry into the VLOC market.Motoi Takeuchi…

The 340-meter-long very large ore carrier (VLOC) Stellar Banner has been scuttled off the coast of Brazil after being declared a total loss due to extensive hull damage suffered during a grounding incident.The 300,660 dwt vessel, owned and operated by the South Korean company Polaris Shipping, ran aground while carrying iron ore bound for China from Vale's terminal in Maranhão in February. The 2016-built Stellar Banner began listing heavily but did not capsize, and all 20 crew members were evacuated from the ship.The ship had been refloated and towed to deeper water after 145…

A 340-meter-long very large ore carrier (VLOC) that ran aground off the coast of Brazil earlier this year will be scuttled due to the extent of hull damage suffered as a result of the incident, Brazilian authorities said.The 300,660 dwt Stellar Banner, owned and operated by the South Korean company Polaris Shipping, ran aground while carrying iron ore bound for China from Vale's terminal in Maranhão in February. The 2016-built ship began listing heavily but did not capsize, and…

Singapore's dry bulk shipping company Berge Bulk has taken delivery of the second and newest 300,000DWT very large ore carrier (VLOC) in China.The new vessel, named Berge Mafadi, was delivered from the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) yard in Guangzhou, said a press note. With a ‘Rightship A+’ rating and an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) 20% below the baseline, she ranks amongst the most energy-efficient bulk carriers in the world.Berge Mafadi has been designed to carry a maximum cargo lift from Port Hedland as well as South Africa and Brazil.The vessel is named after a peak on the border of South Africa and Lesotho. At the height of 3,450m, Mafadi is the highest mountain in the nation of South Africa.

Korean Register (KR), its Chairman, management and entire staff offers sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the seafarers who tragically lost their lives due to the sinking of Stellar Daisy. KR reaffirms its commitment to investigating the causes of the sinking, sharing its knowledge and implementing any changes necessary to avoid a similar loss in the future. The factsStellar Daisy was a 266,141 dwt Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC) owned by Polaris Shipping and flagged with the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). On 31 March 2017 whilst en route from Ilha Guaiba, Brazil to Qingdao and laden with iron ore fines, the ship sank in the South Atlantic Ocean around 1700 nautical miles from Uruguay and 1800 nautical miles from South Africa.

Singapore-based vessel owner and operator Berge Bulk has received the 300,000 DWT bulk carrier Berge Logan, which was built at China’s Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI).The 327-meter-long  very large ore carrier (VLOC) is the largest bulk carrier in terms of deadweight to be built in Southern China.Sailing under the flag of Isle of Man, she will make her maiden voyage to Brazil, said a press release.Very similar in design to Berge K2, Berge Makalu and Berge Annapurna, she is equipped with energy-efficient initiatives – such as a super-efficient tuned main engine, an economiser for the auxiliary engines and a fuel oil shifter.While the vessel has the same characteristics in terms of energy efficient initiatives, she bears certain attributes and features that are unique to her.

ABS granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to two LNG powered designs from China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Group Co (DSIC).DSIC’s designs include a 208,000 dwt bulk carrier and a concept 260,000 dwt Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC).Both designs incorporate a Type C LNG fuel tank in the open area of the aft deck, which DSIC says minimizes the influence on the arrangement of the deck house and increases cargo capacity. DSIC believes the optimized aft deck integrated arrangement achieved the modular design concept for the LNG gas supply system, safety system and filling system and makes for convenient installation and maintenance.

The world’s first intelligent very large ore carrier (iVLOC), the DNV GL-classed Pacific Vision, was delivered by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard to China Merchants Energy Shipping Company.Norway-headquartered international accredited registrar and classification society said in a statement that the vessel is the world’s first VLOC to implement DNV GL’s SmartShip descriptive notation.To qualify for the notation, Pacific Vision has been outfitted with an integration platform, a smart navigation decision support system, a ship energy efficiency management and optimization system, and smart-vessel operation and maintenance system.“It’s a great honour to have worked with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard…

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has received approval in principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register (LR) for a 250,000-deadweight-ton (dwt) class very large ore carrier (VLOC) fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG). HHI, who has been focusing its efforts on LNG-fueled ships ahead of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) SOx emission limitations from 2020, set out on a joint development project (JDP) last year with LR, ship owner and operator ANANGEL and LNG supplier WOODSIDE to develop the LNG-fueled 250,000 dwt VLOC design optimized for the trade route from North West Australia to North Asia, based on the XDF engine.

Shandong-based Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co, a subsidiary of Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co, delivered a very large ore carrier (VLOC) to Brazilian miner Vale SA, said Chinese state media. China Daily said that the ship, named Ore Tianjin, has 400,000 metric tons' carrying capacity and is the first VLOC the group has made for Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Leasing. Aiming to reduce the shipping cost by increasing capacity and enhance the operator's global competitive edge, the ship has a loading capacity equivalent to 6,666 regular freight train cabins, it said. The vessel uses 20 percent less fuel than first-generation VLOCs, slashes transport costs for iron ore by 30 percent and can be loaded much quicker than its predecessors.

The second-largest ore carrier in the world was officially named Yuanhehai and delivered to China Ore Shipping, affiliated with China Cosco Shipping Corporation, in Shanghai, the state media reported.   The 400,000-dwt mega ship, which is 362 meters long, 65 meters wide and 30.4 meters high, was delivered almost a year after the deal was made in 2016, China News Service reported.   The Yuanhehai is the second-generation very large ore carrier (VLOC) designed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company.    The delivery was the first ship of the second-generation VLOC. The shipbuilder will build more VLOCs for China Ore Shipping.

Hyundai Heavy Industry (HHI) Group, with the support of Lloyd's Register (LR), is responding to the increasing  interest in the development of the global supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), following the introduction of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) NOx and SOx emission limitations, by being at the forefront of developing innovative ship designs. This month Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), part of the HHI Group, will deliver of the world’s largest LNG-fuelled ship, a 50,000 dwt bulk carrier with a high manganese LNG fuel tank.

South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has clinched a deal worth approximately US$400 million to build five very large ore carriers(VLOCs) from Seoul-based shipper Polaris Shipping. "HHI has signed a $400 Million worth contract to build five 325,000 dwt VLOCs (Very Large Ore Carrier) with Polaris Shipping. It is the option exercised following the contract of ten same class VLOCs with Polaris Shipping on September 25," said a company statement. HHI Group’s shipbuilding affiliates have so far this year won new orders of 110 ships worth $ 6.7 billion, 90% of the $ 7.5 billion annual target. According to Pulse News, Polaris Shipping upon placing an $800 million order with Hyundai Heavy Industries for 10 VLOCs last month had the option to place additional shipbuilding orders.

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the world’s largest shipbuilder, announced today that it signed a $800 Million worth contract to build ten 325,000 dwt VLOCs (Very Large Ore Carrier) with Polaris Shipping, the domestic dry bulk owner and operator, on September 25. The contract is the largest single order in the last five years since HHI received an order of ten large-sized containerships from a Greek shipping company in 2012. The signing ceremony held at HHI’s Seoul office, was attended by Ka Sam-hyun, COO of HHI Group Ship Sales Division; Chung Ki-sun, Executive Vice President of Corporate Planning Office of HHI; and Kim Wan-jung, CEO of Polaris Shipping.

A large South Korean cargo ship with 24 crew on board is believed to have sunk in the Atlantic Ocean after making an SOS call, News agencies reported quoting the Uruguayan navy. The Stellar Daisy was missing after making its last contact in the South Atlantic about 2,500 kilometres (1,500 miles) from shore, South Korea's foreign ministry and news reports said on Sunday. On Friday, a crew member sent a text saying the 312m-long (1024ft) Stellar Daisy freighter was taking on water. The Uruguayan navy alerted merchant ships in the area, which began a search. Two Filipino crew members were rescued floating in a life raft on Saturday, but other lifeboats and rafts found in the area were empty, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Berge Bulk Maritime confirms that an its VLOC (Very Large Ore Carrier)  “BERGE BUREYA” – (IMO/LR # 9297539) operated vessel was involved in an oil spill incident off Malaysia in the Malacca Strait earlier yesterday morning. There were no injuries to any crew-members and there was no grounding or involvement of any third parties. Whilst in transit between Singapore and Brazil, a quantity of oil was identified leaking from the vessel and the crew immediately enacted emergency procedures to halt the leakage and to start a prompt clean-up operation. A quantity of bunker fuel was spilled and Berge Bulk Maritime is cooperating closely with the Malaysian authorities in the management of the spill and the vessel was boomed following the incident. The oil leak was stemmed quickly.

The push to outfit commercial vessels with energy saving equipment continues, and news out of Japan says that a Mitsubishi Energy Recovery System (MERS) supplied by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Engine Co., Ltd. (MHI-MME) was installed on a VLOC (Very Large Ore Carrier) for the first time. The system is designed to enhance power generation efficiency by maximizing recovery and utilization of exhaust gas waste energy from marine diesel engines, and demonstrated significant fuel consumption improvement compared with existing ships during at-sea trial.

Polaris Shipping Co., Ltd., Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd., Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., and Siemens Energy Solutions Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding at COEX Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul on December 10, 2013 to develop Mobile Powership, an integration of shipbuilding and power generating technology in which a highly efficient power generating facility will be installed onto a FSRU (Floating Storage Regasification Unit) for the very first time in the world. It is expected that Mobile Powership will commence its operation in December 2017 with total investment of $940 Million.

China Rongsheng Heavy Industries Group Holdings Limited has delivered the 380,000 dwt class Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC) 'Vale Caofeidian' to Brazil's Vale S.A. The vessel is the fourth 380,000 DWT class VLOC delivered by the Group this year and its eleventh delivery of VLOC's overall. The Chinese shipbuilders have successfully delivered 11 VLOCs, while most of those remaining have been launched and are under outfitting process. The next VLOC delivering to Vale is also at its final stage for sea trial.