Rio Doce S A News

Vale and BHP Billiton announced today plans to work together, with Samarco, to establish a voluntary, non-profit fund to support the rescue and recuperation of the Rio Doce river system, affected by an accident at Samarco’s Fundão dam, in the state of Minas Gerais on 5 November 2015. The Fund would initially be sponsored by Vale and BHP Billiton. The aim is to seek additional financial support from other private, public and non-government organisations. The initial value is still being defined. The objective, however, is that these resources would support the rescue and recuperation effort of the river system for the longer term. It is proposed that the Fund would have a committee to guide investment and oversee budget approval.

The rise and fall of the Brazilian shipbuilding market is well-known, having plummeted from the top of the world list in the early 1980s to the bottom by 1999. Today, Brazil is storming back, an amazing revival of the nearly defunct shipbuilding industry driven by the sudden influx of orders from major offshore oil & gas players, namely Petrobras. Today the shipbuilding market in Brazil has in excess of 100 firm orders for ships in a variety of shapes and sizes, in addition to a large number of drill rigs and production unit orders. In addition, companies from around the globe are flocking to Brazil to set-up shop and engage in the industry’s renaissance.

Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (Nasdaq: SBLK), a global shipping company focusing on transportation of dry bulk cargoes, announced its operating results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008. •    The Company reported net income of $35.24 million for the third quarter of 2008 compared to net income of $0.94 million for the third quarter of 2007. •    Voyage and time charter revenues were $65.18 million for the third quarter of 2008. This figure includes revenues of $16.89 million attributable to the amortization of the fair value of below/above market acquired time charters. •    Earnings per share, basic and diluted for the third quarter of 2008 were $0.63 and $0.62, respectively.

Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ:SBLK) announced that the 1993-built Capesize vessel M/V Star Beta has entered into period employment with Brazil's Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale) for a minimum of two and a maximum of four months at the gross daily rate of $15,500 for the first 50 days and $25,000 for the days beyond 50 plus a repositioning ballast bonus of $525,000. Following this employment, Star Bulk's contracted fleet operating days under time charter in 2008, 2009 and 2010 is currently 100%, 80% and 66% respectively. Star Bulk is a global shipping company providing seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector. Star Bulk's vessels transport major bulks, which include iron ore, coal and grain and minor bulks such as bauxite, fertilizers and steel products.

Brazilian mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale) reportedly signed a $1.6 billion agreement with Chinese Rongsheng Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries to build 12 large ore carriers, according to a report on Xinhua. The ships, each with a 400,000 dwt capacity, are the largest ore carriers to be built in the world. The fleet will have an estimated capacity to carry 30.2 million metric tons of iron ore per year, which represents 31 percent of Vale's shipments to China in 2007, Vale said. According to Vale, the new ships have high safety standards and will reduce the high cost of long haul maritime transportation of iron ore to steelmakers. The first of the carriers is due to be ready in early 2010. All12 carriers should be ready by 2012.

Hyundai Heavy Industries was down 4,500 won or 1.2 percent at 380,000 won, Samsung Heavy Industries was off 600 won or 1.9 percent to 30,400 won and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering fell 300 won or 0.8 percent to 39,300 won. Hyundai Motor was down 1,300 won or 1.9 percent at 67,600 won and Kia Motors down 50 won or 0.5 percent at 10,400 won. The mainboard KOSPI was down 0.5 percent. Fears are mounting that key steel makers could jack up product prices to reflect higher cost of raw materials, including iron ore and coal. POSCO and Nippon Steel said Monday that they have agreed to a 65 percent increase in iron ore contract prices with Brazil's Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, which will set a global benchmark.

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) announces that it concluded the sale of two ships of its wholly owned subsidiary, Navegacao Vale do Rio Doce S. A. - DOCENAVE (DOCENAVE) to Magna Marine Inc., for US$ 36 million. Both ships have already been delivered to the new owner. This transaction is another step in the divestiture of the long haul dry bulk shipping business, in accordance with the strategic guidelines established in 2001. Since then, CVRD has sold 14 (fourteen) ships for the total amount of US$ 134.7 million. Thus, from its old fleet, Docenave remains with three ships, which CVRD intends to sell. Docenave continues to operate in the coastal shipping and port services businesses, which are full components of the CVRD logistics business.

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) is reportedly withdrawing from next week's landmark auction of oil exploration and production licenses.