Market speculation that Vale is planning to ditch its operated fleet of 17 VLCC-to-very-large-ore-carrier (VLOC) conversions, following the loss of the 266,141-dwt Stellar Daisy (built 1993), seems to have been dampened as it began loading iron ore again.
The converted vessels have been taken on long-term hire from South Korean owner Polaris Shipping, which last week rubbished talk that Vale wanted to ditch the ships, saying it had no such notification.
