China may build five berths for Valemaxes
The tussle over the berthing of Vale's giant iron ore carriers may finally be over with China's transport ministry approving plans to build berths for iron ore vessels of up to 400,000 dwt at its eastern Ningbo-Zoushan port, Seatrade Asia Online reports.
The ministry was reported as saying on its website that it had approved the RMB4.91bn ($770.39m) project to build five berths with capacities ranging from 50,000 dwt to 400,000 dwt and was awaiting final approval of the National Development and Reform Commission.
The largest of these berths of course, have a specific design capacity number that will be music to Vale's ears, as it would allow their 380,000 dwt to 400,000 dwt Valemaxes to berth there.
China allowed the first and only Valemax, the 380,000-tonne Berge Everest, to dock at Dalian in December 2011 but has since closed its ports to the massive ships citing safety concerns but arguably also in reaction to domestic ship owners protesting that Vale was using the vessels to dominate the lucrative iron ore trade.
