At 402,348 dwt, MV Ore Brasil is amongst the largest ships ever managed by Anglo-Eastern. This December, the VLOC earned the extra distinction of being the largest vessel to ever call on the northern Chinese port of Lianyungang, which involved unprecedented collaboration with multiple parties to accommodate the ship’s immense draft and ensure a smooth port entry and berthing.
Leading the mammoth undertaking for Anglo-Eastern was operations director Capt. Rohit Kulkarni, who was tasked with not only coordinating with the ship’s owner (Ming Wah) and crew (led by Capt. Rupak Oak), but also the China Maritime Safety Administration, local port authority, and pilot association.
What made this particular port call so complex was the fact that 20 nautical miles of the channel leading into the port needed to be dredged to a depth of at least 24 metres in order to accommodate the 23-metre draft of the fully loaded ship, which was carrying 390,000 tonnes of iron ore from Brazil.
Extensive discussions, logistical arrangements, and dredging works took place over a six-week period, after which a bathymetric survey was performed to comprehensively map the depths and details of the underwater terrain in the modified channel. The results of the survey were thoroughly studied, amongst other checks and due diligence. With everything confirmed to be in good order, Capt. Kulkarni gave the green light for the ship to proceed.
To ensure a smooth port entry and berthing operation, it had been decided that six pilots and six tugs would be required to safely guide Ore Brasil. On December 18th, three senior pilots boarded the VLOC by helicopter while at anchorage, joining the experienced hands of Capt. Oak and his crew to guide the ship through the modified channel early the next morning. Another three pilots joined before berthing.
The entire procedure ran smoothly without incident, giving cause for celebration by all parties involved. Following Ore Brasil’s successful port call, Lianyungang has gone on to receive other VLOCs, including the Anglo-Eastern managed MV Shandong Da Ren (402,380 dwt) on January 8th.
Well done and congratulations to Capt. Kulkarni, Capt. Oak, and the crew of Ore Brasil, plus the team of pilots and tug crews who assisted in the milestone operation, ensuring its success. Special thanks must also go to all the parties involved for making the port call possible in the first place, with Ore Brasil having helped pave (or dredge, as the case may be) the way for other VLOCs to call on Lianyungang!