Brazil-based mining giant Vale has announced that a Valemax iron ore vessel has arrived in Japan for the first time, docking at Nippon Steel Corporation (NSC)'s Port of Oita on Monday, June 18.
Valemax vessels are the world's biggest ore carriers with the capacity to transport up to 400,000 mt and capable of reducing carbon emissions by 35 percent per metric ton of ore transported. The ship in question, owned by the Norwegian company Bergesen Worldwide (BW Group) and called Berge Aconcagua, is the seventh Valemax ore carrier completed.
This type of ship is considered eco-friendly as its carbon dioxide emissions per metric ton of ore transported are 34 percent less than those of conventional ships with around 200,000 mt of capacity, due to use of more modern equipment that consumes less diesel. Vale stated that Valemax carriers will contribute to reductions in the cost of seaborne transportation of iron ore to steel companies.