A very large ore carrier has been allowed into a Chinese port for the first time.
The move appears to be a breakthrough in the ongoing dispute between Vale and Chinese authorities over their unwillingness to allow the company’s VLOCs into China, the very market they were designed to serve.
It began when the 400,000-dwt Vale Brasil (built 2011) was rerouted on its maiden voyage from Brazil to China this summer.
The Berge Everest, built by Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry in China, is the first of four VLOCs operated by BW Group for Vale. The rest are due to hit the water next year.
The ship is owned by Berge Bulk which is controlled by the Sohmen family, who also own BW Group.
Analyst Mike Pak said opposition from the Chinese shipping and steel industries was standing in the way.
“Even though construction of the fleet is being partly financed by Chinese banks and 12 of the vessels are being constructed in Chinese shipyards, the vessels are seen as a threat to domestic shipping companies and a loss of bargaining power for Chinese steel producers, in our view,” he said in a report.
More recently the vessels ran into controversy when STX Pan Ocean’s 400,000-dwtVale Beijingdeveloped a leak prior to making its maiden voyage from Brazil.
The industry association has previously put pressure on the Chinese government to ensure it has a slice of the VLOC ownership pie.
But Murilo warned that any sale would only go ahead with a long-term charter-back to Vale.
A total of 16 vessels are operated for Vale while the company has ordered 19 of its own.