World’s largest floating bulk terminal completed

Genoa-based Logmarin Advisors, part of the RINA Group, has enabled Brazil’s Vale SA to convert the Ore Fabrica (the former VLCC Front Duchess) into the world’s largest transhipment vessel. It will shortly come into operation at a site in Subic Bay, the Philippines, where it will operate as a platform for the transhipment of iron ore cargoes from Vale’s 400 000 dwt valemax ore carriers into capesize vessels for carriage to markets in Asia.

Logmarin assisted Vale by devising and supervising the detailed design of the conversion, providing procurement assistance, selecting the Ore Fabrica terminal management, and developing operation and safety procedures, Hazard and Operability analysis, and arranging transhipment site identification and permits. Additional support provided included assistance during commissioning and personnel training. 

The new cargo handling plant, the only one of its kind, consists of five Liebherr MPG cranes and a sophisticated conveyor belt/loading system designed and built by Bedeschi of Padova. The cargo handling facility is certified by RINA.

The conversion was carried out at the Jiangsu Xinrong Shipyard in China. A total of 4643 t of new plant and structure went into the conversion. The installation of 9680 KW of power gives the vessel a 5000 t/h capacity – sufficient to load a capesize vessel in 36 hours. From design to delivery, the entire conversion took 333 days to complete.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/10022012/vale_and_logmarin_complete_largest_floating_bulk_terminal/