Chrome Exports from South Africa to China (South Africa

Chrome Exports from South Africa to China

Ms. Louise White (ACS) and Ms. Julie Lai (Takela) on site at Bulk Terminal – Durban Port. Chrome Ore stock pile in the background.

Bulk carrier Giacometti at berth in Durban. Over the past few months, I have been fortunate enough to build a relationship with our business partner Takela Group who have taken me under their wing to learn a bit about chrome exports.

I accompanied them to Durban in the first week of March to assist in supervising a bulk load of 20,000 MT of Chrome Run of Mine, or ore from source prior to processing, from Durban to Tianjin Xingang, China. This chrome has been financed by our mutual client Happy-Go-Lucky.

Loading was supposed to commence on Sunday February 27, but as it goes, the vessel berth was moved out and we only begun the loading on Tuesday March 1. This type of tonnage can take 2 to 4 days to load depending on the weather. If the rain is too heavy the hatches to the holds, on the vessel, must be closed to keep the chrome from getting too wet and operations come to a halt. Luckily the heavens did not open during this time, but we did have stoppages due to wind and an unfortunate mechanical breakdown which took over 7 hours to fix.

Hard hat and safety boots in hand we made our way to Bulk Connections, who operate 3 berths.

As we passed the last security check point, we were instantly dwarfed by the size of the Giacometti in all her glory.

The stockpile is stored around 100 m from the berth. Large excavators seem to buzz around like remote controlled toys loading container upon container with Chrome, all while the deafening rock crusher obliterates any large pieces found within the pile. I am pretty sure the crusher operator must be a first-class PlayStation gamer, his accuracy in moving the rock and pinning them down with the narrow drill is amazing to watch!

They operate with specialised bottom discharge containers that are loaded from the stockpile, transported alongside the vessel, lifted, and discharged into the hold. The entire load of one container takes around 2 ½ minutes to be lifted, emptied on board, and placed back on the truck for its next round trip back to the stockpile and so the process continues until they are done. CCIC has inspectors on duty in shifts all throughout loading and they extract bags of samples from different points within the pile. These are sent to their lab to be tested to ensure this is the same quality of Chrome that was moved from the mine is in fact the same quality exported.

Loading completed Saturday afternoon, whereafter the final draft survey(1) of the vessel was done, and Mate receipt issued for tonnage loaded.

Next shipment will be ready to move soon, and Takela is hoping that with the persuasion from Mr. John Lau that ACS can one day take over the operation.

Louise White ACS South Africa Johannesburg Branch Manager

(1) A draft survey is the “before and after” survey, which determines by measurement, the vessel’s displacement before and after loading or discharging. The purpose of a draft survey is to determine the amount of cargo loaded or discharged for the benefit of all the interested parties — the shippers, the receivers, the charterers and the ship owners” Draft Survey – Knowledge

Of Sea

Vessel loading via specialised bottom discharge containers. This system is suitable for many commodities that require special handling that cannot be handled by conveyor.