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Chinese ports able to handle valemaxes Dalian Lianyungang Qingdao Tianjin Ningbo-Zhoushan Zhanjiang Caofeidian
Ready for some big ships The valemax saga is closing. Chinese ports are about to welcome the largest bulkers afloat
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razilian miner Vale would have been glad to hear of the news of the retirement of Wei Jiafu as chairman of Cosco Group in the summer. Wei had been the most vocal and powerful opponent of Vale’s giant 400,000 dwt bulkers, dubbed valemaxes, calling in China. As we go to press, SinoShip expects the restriction on these controversial ships to be lifted. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) in August sent letters to the China
Shipowners’ Association, China Ports & Harbours Association, China Maritime Pilots Association, Maritime Safety Administration, and relevant government departments and local port companies, requesting feedback on future administrative measures for the safe docking of ships. In the letter, MOT said it was vital ports kept up to date with the trend of vessels getting larger and maintaining safe operations. The ministry also suggested allowing
Ningbo-Zhoushan surpasses Shanghai Shanghai is on course to retain its boxport crown in 2013 for a fourth straight year, although it may be run close by Singapore after some stuttering months. However, the surprise news is that the financial metropolis looks set to be eclipsed by its neighbour to the south, Ningbo-Zhoushan (pictured), in
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the overall tonnage stakes. A recent report issued by the Shanghai International Shipping Institute showed that NingboZhoushan, by common consent the finest natural deepwater port in China, continues to show a robust rise in cargo throughput with double-digit growth in
bulk carriers larger than 300,000 dwt to call at Chinese ports as long as safety can be guaranteed. The MOT had barred the megaships from the country’s ports in early 2012, describing the ships as “a question of monopoly and unfair competition” and citing security concerns after the first 400,000 dwt valemax docked at Dalian in December 2011. Another valemax called at Lianyungang this April. Vale began commissioning a total of 35 giant bulkers back in 2008, each ship costing more than $100m. SinoShip reckons that besides Dalian and Lianyungang, the ports of Qingdao, Tianjin, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Zhanjiang and Caofeidian all have the infrastructure in place to accept valemaxes straight away. Other ports will follow suit. For instance, Meizhouwan port announced plans for the construction of a 400,000 dwt berth on the same day in August that the MOT issued its letter backtracking on previous megaship restrictions. Clearly, the valemax saga is close to an end.
the second quarter helping it overtake Shanghai and become the world’s top port in total tonnage terms in the first half of the year. Ningbo-Zhoushan’s 6.7% cumulative growth in the first half of the year was higher than that of Shanghai, which lags behind by more than 11m tonnes. Ningbo Port is now eyeing a stock listing in Hong Kong.