Dry CargoGreater China

China’s Ministry of Transport gives valemax verdict

Beijing: In China’s post-valemax ban era, the Ministry of Transport has released design details of new 400,000 dwt bulk carriers and new regulations for large-sized bulk terminal construction. China has recently allowed Vale’s slew of giant VLOCs to call in China, thus ending a four-year spat, which Beijing had used safety concerns in the past to bar these ships.

According to the new revised regulations these mammoth bulkers coming to China cannot be longer than 362 m, or wider than 65.6 m and cannot exceed 403,844 dwt.

Brazilian miner Vale’s 400,000 dwt valemaxes have been able to call at five different Chinese ports so far in the wake of the ban being lifted, and several Chinese ports are developing giant bulk terminals to accommodate them.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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