Vale holds first test with cargo in the world's largest iron ore carrier
in new pier in Maranhão

4 September 2013

Vale held the first loading test with a Valemax vessel in the new South berth at Pier IV in the Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal in São Luís, Maranhão state. The unprecedented operation with vessels of this size, with capacity to transport around 400,000 tons of iron ore, began last weekend and followed the schedule. On Tuesday, Sept 3, the ship Vale Caofeidian, loaded with over 390,000 tons, sailed to Asia. Operational tests in the South berth started in late 2012 and continue at a fast pace.

With Pier IV, there are three large piers - the Pier I at Ponta da Madeira, and Pier II at the Port of Tubarão - capable of receiving the Valemaxes in Brazil. In addition to Ponta da Madeira and Tubarão, the Valemax vessels regularly dock in the ports of Taranto, Rotterdam, Sohar, Oita, Kimitsu and Mindanao, and Vale's two floating transfer stations in Subic Bay, Philippines. By the end of this year, the Valemaxes will also be able to call at the company's maritime terminal and distribution center in Malaysia.

Vale's goal with the fleet - in total, there will be 35 ships - is to maximize the efficiency of operations and reduce the cost of shipping iron ore across the seas to steelmakers. Furthermore, the Valemax vessels are considered the most ecological on the dry bulk market, as they allow for a 35% reduction in carbon emissions per ton of ore transported compared with ships in other categories.



To expand the loading capacity of Ponta da Madeira, Vale began the construction of Pier IV in 2010. The Pier IV is part of the first stage of the expansion of Carajás' logistics capacity (CLN 150 project) and aims to add 20 million tons to the current capacity, reaching 150 Mt in 2014. This investment will support an increase in production of the existing mines in Carajás, Pará state.

In April this year, Vale received the operating license for Pier IV, issued by the state environmental authority. The license refers to the onshore and offshore sections of Pier IV. The onshore part comprises two car dumpers, two stockyards, a stacker, two reclaimers and conveyor belts. The offshore part contains the South berth of Pier IV, an access bridge (1.6 km), a ship loader with its loading line (16 tons per hour), an environmental monitoring system, a pier for tugboats and other equipment. In 2012, the Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal - including operations in the berth 105, operated by Vale at Itaqui Port - was responsible for the shipment of 109,913 Mt, of which 103,960 Mt equivalent to the transport of iron ore and the remaining 5,953 Mt equal to general cargo.

Vale press release