Fuel oil unloading from the stricken Vale Beijing large iron-ore transport ship was postponed on Thursday due to strong winds and tides that are making the operation unsafe, Dow Jones reports.
Removal of approximately 7,000 metric tons of fuel oil from the ship must be carried out in the near future so as to prevent the possibility of an oil spill.
The world’s largest iron ore carrier, leased to Brazil iron ore miner Vale SA, developed cracks in its hull on December 3 while it was loading iron ore at Vale’s Ponta da Madeira export terminal in Maranhao for export. The vessel, which was on its maiden voyage, is owned and operated by South Korean company STX Pan Ocean Co.
The ship is still loaded with 260,000 tons of iron ore. Unloading will be undertaken once the oil is removed and only then it will be decided where the ship will be taken for repair.
A salvage team is investigating the cause of the accident.
[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff, January 2, 2012;