OREANDA-NEWS. October 25, 2012. A Valemax ship, called Vale Minas Gerais, docked at the Villanueva port in the Mindanao island (Philippines) for the first time. The world's largest iron ore carrier, with the capacity to transport up to 400,000 metric tons of iron ore and capable of reducing carbon emissions by 35% per ton of ore transported, was loaded in the Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal, in Maranhao state, Brazil, in the end of August. The cargo is destined for Japan's JFE Steel, which received the vessel at its Philippines Sinter Corp (PSC) in Mindanao. JFE is one of Vale's biggest clients.

Click here to download pictures of Vale Minas Gerais in Mindanao

This was the maiden voyage of Vale Minas Gerais, part of a fleet of Valemax vessels totaling 18 ships (owned and chartered). The Valemax ships are part of Vale's strategy to reduce the economical distance between Brazil and Asia, the main consumer market for iron ore. The very large ore carriers adhere to strict safety standards and contribute significantly towards reducing the carbon footprint in the long haul transportation of iron ore as well as to reductions in the cost of seaborne transportation of iron ore to steelmakers.

Vale's executive director for Ferrous and Strategy, Jose Carlos Martins, said that JFE is the latest steelmaker to benefit from the advantages of scale and efficiency brought by a Valemax vessel. Until now, Ilva, ThyssenKrupp, Rogesa and Nippon Steel have received the very large ore carriers.

"We are in advanced negotiations so as to allow for other customers and ports also benefit from the advantages of these vessels," Martins said.

"With the startup of our second floating transfer station expected for the first quarter of 2013, the distribution center in Malaysia and our entire fleet of Valemax vessels in place, Vale will be fully prepared to serve the Asian markets on equal terms with its competitors in the region," he added. This whole logistics solution, encompassing vessels, floating transfer stations and distribution centers, is expected to be in place in early 2014.

With the Villanueva port, seven ports are receiving the Valemax vessels. So far, they have called at the ports of Tubarao and Ponta da Madeira (Brazil), Taranto (Italy), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Sohar (Oman) and Oita (Japan) as well as Vale's floating transfer station in Subic Bay, in the Philippines. By the end of 2013, there will be a total of 35 similar vessels available to transport Vale's iron ore - 19 owned by Vale and 16 chartered from international shipowners.