Brazil’s Vale has begun its iron ore distribution operation in the Philippines in February.
A Valemax, Vale Brasil arrived in Subic Bay, Philippines on 12th February. Vale’s Ore Fabrica, the world’s largest dry bulk floating storage vessel, arrived in Subic Bay on 30th Dec 2011. The 280,000-deadweight-tonne vessel will serve as a platform to transfer iron ore from the big ships called Valemaxes to smaller vessels for transport to Asian market led by China.
China barred Vale’s giant dry bulk vessels from entering its ports in a bid to protect its shipping industry which has been hit hard by the economic downturn and falling freight rates. With access to China shut, Vale has set up transhipment hub in the Philippines’ Subic port, where its mega ship can berth and transfer cargo to smaller vessels to be able to reach Chinese port. Apart from Philippines, Vale is also setting up a transhipment centre in Malaysia. The Brazilian miner in October broke ground for a $1.3 billion iron ore distribution hub in Malaysia’s northern Perak state, which could be ready to handle the giant ships by 2014.
Vale is counting on a fleet of 35 Valemaxs to slash shipping costs to China to help it better compete with Australian rivals BHP Biliton and Rio Tinto.
We would like to bring it to your attention in the event that any owner gets involved in the transhipment of Brazilian Iron Ore via Subic Bay, Philippines.
The iron ore that Vale ship’s worldwide include Iron Ore Fine. Amongst a number of matters they stated that the occurance of standing water during the seaborne transportation of Brazilian iron ore fines is relatively frequent and so may be taken as one of their characteristics. Recognizing the importance of standing water pumping out procedures during sea voyages, Vale instructs vessels to pump out standing water as this is produced inside the holds. In addition, Vale installs special auxiliary filters in the bilges of vessels’ holds, which mitigate the ingress of solid particles into the pumping system of the bilges.
With a transhipment operation been undertaken the big question will be whether special auxilary filters will be fitted by Vale to the cargo hold bilges of the smaller transhipment vessels that will be used for the final transportation leg in the Far East.
If not, then these feeder vessels may be facing a big risk with a cargo that may liquefy.
See attached file : ALCO20120012Attention to Brazilian Iron Ore transhipped via Subic Bay.pdf
注意经苏比克湾中转的巴西铁矿砂
全球矿业巨头巴西淡水河谷在菲律宾的铁矿砂转运中心于今年2月起正式投入使用。
公司旗下大型矿砂船 “巴西淡水河谷” 号于2月12日抵达菲律宾苏比克湾。这是继淡水河谷旗下世界最大的干散货浮式储存船舶 Ore Fabrica 在去年12月30日抵达苏比克湾后，第二艘抵达苏比克湾的大型货船。Ore Fabrica 船舶载重28万吨，将作为中转 “Valemax” 船的铁矿砂至小型船舶的平台。待铁矿砂转移至小型船舶后，发往中国及其他亚洲市场。
中国政府为了保护由于经济不景气而受创的航运市场，拒绝淡水河谷大型矿砂船停靠中国港口。淡水河谷不得不利用苏比克湾作为铁矿石转运及分销中心，将转移铁矿石至小型船舶，再发往中国市场。另外，淡水河谷于马来西亚北部霹靂州，耗资13亿美元建立的铁矿石配送中心，预计在2014年投入使用。
目前，淡水河谷正致力于打造由35艘大型矿砂船组成的船队，以削减到中国的运输成本，更好地与澳大利亚矿业巨头必和必拓及力拓竞争。
我们想提醒可能前往菲律宾苏比克湾转运巴西淡水河谷公司铁矿砂的船舶注意安全。
淡水河谷发往全球的铁矿石中包含铁矿粉。其铁矿粉在海上运输过程中离析出静水的频率很高。淡水河谷公司已经充分认识到这一特质，以及在海上运输过程中将所析出静水排空的重要性，因此指令旗下船舶需要将船舱中离析出来的静水排空。此外，淡水河谷还特别要求在船舱舱底安装辅助隔离设备，以防止堵塞舱底的排水系统。
问题是淡水河谷是否会在转运铁矿石前往远东地区的小型船舶上安装此类辅助隔离设备。
如果没有安装的话，这些支端的小型运输船舶就将面临铁矿粉液化的巨大危险。
以上由 ANDREW LIU & CO.,LTD 编译，应以英文为准！
详细信息请参阅附件。
