OREANDA-NEWS. Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation has recently accepted at its Kashima Works on a trial basis a 400,000 ton-class large-sized raw material carrier (commonly known as the “Vale Max”) operated by Brazil’s Vale S.A.—the largest iron ore supplier in the world. The Vale Max is the largest iron ore transport vessel that has been accepted into Japan, and this is its first entry into NSSMC’s Kashima Works.

NSSMC has already accepted the Vale Max at its Oita Works and Kimitsu Works, but not at Kashima Works, until this time. The vessel was unloaded at NSSMC’s Oita Works, Kimitsu Works, and Kashima Works during her recent cruise, which has demonstrated the potential of the NSSMC’s port and harbor infrastructure in terms of the acceptance of large-sized vessels. NSSMC has realized the acceptance of the Vale Max at its Kashima Works as a part of its efforts to pursue the merits of the integration of its operations.

NSSMC is determined to continue various efforts to reduce the transportation cost of raw materials.