Nordic Bulk Carriers’ vessel Nordic Odin (77,000 dwt, built 2015) has become the first panamax bulker to carry iron ore from Baffin Island, Canada to Europe through Arctic sea ice.
The 1A ice-classed ship loaded the cargo on August 12 at Milne Port, on the island’s north shore, and arrived at Gijon in Spain on August 23.
This is the first shipment under the $135m contract of affreightment (COA) won in May by Pangaea Logistics Solutions, Nordic Bulk Carriers’ parent company, from “a major international steel producer”.
The COA provides for up to 30 shipments per year for up to five years, and will employ Nordic Bulk Carriers’ ice-classed tonnage, which comprises a fleet of four panamax and two handysize bulk carriers. The ships will load on the east coast of Canada and discharge in Europe.
“We are proud to bring previously unavailable high-quality iron ore into the international market for a valued client utilising our unique ice-class capabilities,” said Mads Petersen, managing director of Nordic Bulk Carriers. “This strategy is underpinned by an unmatched fleet comprising the majority of the world’s 1A ice-class panamaxes and crews that are some of the most capable and experienced in the industry.”
On August 8, Fednav’s supramax bulker Federal Tiber (55,300 dwt, built 2013) left Milne port with the first shipment of Mary River iron ore, bound for Nordenham, Germany.
