Marine Log - October 2008 - (Page 31)

BY NICK BLENKEY COVERSTORY Executives from China’s Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries, Brazil’s Vale and DNV at signing ceremony for $1.6 billion commercial ship order for 12 VLOC’s China’s GREAT AMBITIONS hina continues to produce shipbuilding breakthroughs, milestones and surprises. In August, top private shipbuilder Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries won what has been hailed as the world’s largest single merchant ship construction order. Worth $1.6 billion, it covers construction of a dozen 400,000 dwt Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOC’s) for the world’s biggest iron ore supplier, Brazil’s Vale (formerly Companhia Vale do Rio Doce). The ships, which will be 360 meters long, 65 meters wide and 30.4 meters high, will be the world’s largest ore carriers and the largest vessels thus far constructed in China. Deliveries, are scheduled from early 2011 through the end of 2012. They will be classed by DNV which says that they are designed to have a record-low carbon footprint. The step up from a standard Capesize bulk carrier to www.marinelog.com C 400,000 dwt means a reduction by between 30 and 40% in fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions for each tonne of cargo carried. The ships are also designed for long-lasting, effective, and reliable operation. Special attention is being paid to fatigue life and efficient loading operations. DNV will apply a new class notation EL-2 (Easy Loading). EL-2 ensures a design that combines safety with loading flexibility, and it will allow the vessels to load each cargo hold in one pass. “DNV is pleased to be the selected class society for this pioneering project.” says DNV Maritime’s COO Tor E. Svensen. “Our role as an independent third party is to ensure that the quality and safety of these vessels are taken care of both during design, construction and operation.” The giant ore carriers will be part of a dedicated maritime shuttle service carrying iron ore from Vale’s maritime termi- nals in Brazil to Asian clients. It will be served by 18 VLOCs, in addition to three existing smaller Capesize vessels. The fleet will have the capacity to carry 30.2 million tons of iron ore a year, or equivalent to 31% of Vale’s shipments to China last year. Eduardo de Salles Bartolomeo, Vale’s Executive Director of Logistics, says that most of the growth in ore demand during the next five years will come from Asia, led by China. RICKMERS GROUP ORDER AT GUANHZHOU WENCHONG Not all ships ordered from China are of record breaking size. Polaris Shipmanagement, a Rickmers Group company marked the opening of last month’s SMM event by ordering four more 24,000 dwt multi-purpose vessels for service with heavylift and project cargo shipping company Rickmers-Linie. The contract went to Chinese shipbuilder Guangzhou WenOCTOBER 2008 MARINE LOG 31 http://www.marinelog.com

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Marine Log - October 2008 Contents Editorial Second Thoughts Update Inside Washington Fresh Fuel Ferries Exhibitors Preview Ferries get "Smarter" China's Great Ambitions Newsmakers Tech News Contracts Events Website Directory ML Buyer's Guide ML Marketplace Shipbuilding History

Marine Log - October 2008

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