400,000-ton ore carrier named after Zhanjiang

A grand ceremony was held at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Company on April 30 to mark the delivery of a 400,000-ton ore vessel that is named after the city of Zhanjiang.

Ore Zhanjiang, which is 362 meters long, was built in Qingdao for China Merchants Energy Shipping Company and ICBC Leasing for their joint very large ore carrier (VLOC) program with Vale, the Brazilian multinational metals and mining company.

Cui Qing, vice mayor of Zhanjiang, attended the naming ceremony on April 30.

A ceremony is held at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Company on April 30 to mark the delivery of a 400,000-ton ore vessel named after the city of Zhanjiang. [Photo/gdzjdaily.com.cn]

In March 2016, China Merchants Energy Shipping Company and ICBC Leasing ordered eight 400,000-ton ore vessels from Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Company. At the end of 2018, top government officials from Zhanjiang toured the headquarters of China Merchants Group in Hong Kong to boost strategic cooperation between the two cities. Senior officials later announced that the first of its VLOC ships under construction will be named after Zhanjiang. 

After the delivery of Ore Zhanjiang, the total number of VLOCs operated by China Merchants Group has reached 31, cementing the company as the owner of the largest VLOC fleet. The ship will also help promote Zhanjiang to Belt and Road countries and to the world.