Ore transhipment pushed by China
One of the new Valemax size vessels that has brought objections from China
An announcement by China’s Ministry of Transport means that port operators will no longer be allowed to decide whether to allow VLOCs into their facility.
He said: “While today's announcement was issued by China's Ministry of Transport on the pretence of adhering to safety concerns, in reality the move is being made to aid Chinese shipowners and maintain leverage over Vale.”
In other words, China wants to support its domestic owners and, by refusing these big carriers entry, the government is attempting to limit the control that Vale's new 400,000-tonne iron ore carriers, known as ‘Valemaxes’, gives foreign shipowners over the freight market.
This will doubtless mean a stepping up of business for the Ore Fabrica, a vessel that will act as a platform for the transhipment hub operation in the Philippean Subic Bay Freeport, pointed out Mr Landsberg. There will probably also be a greater slice for new ore hubs being developed in Malaysia.
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