China delivers world's largest ore carrier

The 400,000-tonne carrier produced by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co. Ltd. has a carrying capacity equivalent to 6,666 freight train carriages.

A 400,000-ton ore carrier, Ore Tianjin, was delivered to Brazil's iron ore giant Vale in the coastal city of Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province on March 22, 2018. The domestically-built ship can carry more than 6,600 railway cars of ore. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]

The ocean-going vessel, named "Ore Tianjin," is 362 meters long and 65 meters wide. It can sail 25,500 nautical miles without refueling.

Chen Qing, general manager of the company, said the carrier can be powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which could save transport cost by 30 percent and greatly reduce pollution.

The ship also boasts an advanced ship-loading mechanism that can load 400,000 tonnes of ore in 16.7 hours.

The vessel passed a sea test before being delivered in Qingdao City in east China's Shandong Province on Thursday.

The freighter is "the best choice" for the transportation of ore between Brazil and China. It is fuel-efficient and friendly to the marine environment, said Zhao Guicai, president of ICBC Leasing, which bought the ore carrier.