Vale addresses concerns about Chinese port restrictions

Thursday, 02 February 2012 01:42:41 (GMT+2)

Brazilian-based iron ore mining giant Vale responded Wednesday to recent news regarding the Chinese government's ban on large vessels in their ports. In their press release, Vale clarified that its vessels will only dock at Chinese ports in accordance with China's legislation.

Vale went on to say that adapting ports to receive the giant ore carriers is a highly technical issue, to be addressed in accordance with the local and international maritime legislation, requiring detailed engineering studies and, in many cases, additional investment to train operators, reinforce berths, and conduct dredging. At the moment, Vale's Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs) can dock at maximum capacity at the ports of Ponta da Madeira, Sohar, Taranto and Rotterdam.

Vale reiterated that its objectives are to offer an efficient and safe logistics solution for connecting the company's maritime terminals in Brazil to its Asian and European customers, reduce the cost of transporting iron ore across the seas as well as reduce freight and ore price volatility, and contribute to cut carbon emissions per ton of ore transported.

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