The second-largest ore carrier in the world was officially named and delivered to China Ore Shipping on Thursday in Shanghai, which experts said will boost Brazil's iron ore exports.
The 400,000-dwt mega ship, Yuanhehai, was delivered to China Ore Shipping, affiliated with China Cosco Shipping Corporation, in Shanghai almost a year after the deal was made in 2016, China News Service reported.
The Yuanhehai is the second-generation very large ore carrier (VLOC) designed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company. The delivery was the first ship of the second-generation VLOC.
The VLOC, designed for Brazilian mining giant Vale SA, will boost and support its transport of iron ore to China and other Asian countries, such as Japan and South Korea, Wu Minghua, a Shanghai-based independent shipping industry analyst, told the Global Times on Thursday.
The second generation VLOC, 30 in all, manufactured by four shipbuilders in China, will meet Brazilian export requirements for iron ore in 2018 and succeeding years, Wu said.
Brazil's Vale is expected to produce about 63 million tons of iron ore in 2018 as its new mine lot is being exploited, he added.
Construction of the Yuanhehai began on November 9, 2016, and its seven-day trial was completed on December 21. It has undergone more than 80 tests at sea.
The ship is 362 meters long, 65 meters wide and 30.4 meters high.
It's more economical, environmentally-friendly and safer than first-generation carriers. The shipbuilder, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company, will deliver nine more VLOCs to China Ore Shipping, China News Service reported.
