Oldendorff Performs Trial Transshipment off Andaman Islands

German shipping company Oldendorff Carriers has conducted a new transshipment operation in the deep, protected water of the Andaman Islands within the Bay of Bengal. 

The company’s Panamax ship Trina Oldendorff transshipped 25,000 tons of coal bound for the Indian Port of Haldia.

The 75,053 dwt bulker loaded 73,086 tons of coking coal from Gladstone, Australia and sailed to the Andaman Islands. Off Port Meadow, it then transhipped 25,000 tons of cargo into the 58,000 dwt Spar Rigel.

Trina Oldendorff proceeded to discharge part of the remaining cargo in India.

The transshipment was carried out using the side mounted cranes and grabs of the Trina Oldendorff. The 2013-built vessel was converted to a side mounted geared vessel at Chengxi shipyard in China last year.

Oldendorff and its joint venture partner India Power have worked for the past two years to initiate a first trial shipment to develop Port Meadow as a transshipment hub.

“We are already planning our next transshipment operation in the Andaman Islands,” Oldendorff Carriers said.

“We expect our transshipment vessel to then enter into a shuttle trade between Haldia and the Andaman Islands. Our transshipment vessels are capable of lightering incoming bulk carriers from Panamax up to Capesize,” the company added.