China gives green light for valemaxes to call at Chinese ports

The seven berths are at Dalian port’s Dagushan with one berth, Tangshan port’s Caofeidian with two berths, Ningbo-Zhoushan port’s Mayishan with one berth, another of Ningbo-Zhoushan port’s Shulanghu with two berths, and Qingdao port’s Dongjiakou with one berth.

The berths at Dalian’s Dagushan, Ningbo-Zhoushan’s Shulanghu, and Qingdao’s Dongjiakou are completed, with the remaining two under construction.

Ealier this week, valemax Yuan Zhuo Hai arrived off the coast of Qingdao port and has called at the berth at Dongjiakou. The Yuan Zhuo Hai is owned by China Ore Shipping, joint venture of China Cosco and China Shipping Development Co (CSDC), and on long term charter to Brazil’s mining giant Vale.

“At present, our coastal iron ore shipping terminals are mostly ready, and they will aid the development of China’s iron ore trade growth,” China’s ministry of transport said in a statement.

It highlighted that operators need to read and adhere to an earlier guideline titled ‘Ship scale provision for 400,000 dwt dry bulk carriers’, which specify the measurements of the mega-sized bulkers for them to safely operate at port.

The latest announcement by Beijing has ended the disagreement between Vale and Chinese shipowners, where its China Shipowners’ Association (CSA) had vigoriously opposed the calling of VLOCs at Chinese ports.

The first valemax, Berge Everest, called at Dalian port in December 2011, followed by a second, Vale Malaysia, which arrived at Lianyungang port in April 2013.