Vale Beijing

[Robert McDonald]

Many of you may have noticed the Vale Beijing has moved further
offshore. She is returning at "at anchor" circular pattern on AIS.

My guess is that they were seeking "clearer" water to conduct
an under water survey.

The Baia de Sao Marcos is very turbid, with three river systems
feeding it.

Robert in Port Townsend
www.oil-electric.com

[Tuomas Romu]

Could it be possible to collect the news regarding the Vale Beijing and perhaps the Valemax vessels in general in a single thread instead of making a new one everytime something happens? It would make following the case and discussion about the topic much easier. Perhaps someone from the administration could combine the Valemax-related threads?

On a side note, according to DNV the Vale Beijing had suffered from six buckled web frames. What's the web frame spacing on those ships?

[holedrille]

To an ordinary (non naval architect) engineer it sounds part way to breaking in half!
Holedriller

[victor radio74]

A new Vale ship is showing her AIS in Marinetraffic: VALE DONGJIAKOU imo 9532513 is in the Yangtze river...Happy new year to the Vale saga  and to all members of Shipspotting

[Tuomas Romu]

Vale Dalian (IMO 9532525) has also been launched. The Chinese are catching up with the South Koreans.

Any info about the names of the upcoming ships?

[Mats]

I believe this is the latest name list:

DSME ships:
Vale Brasil (2011)
Vale Rio de Janeiro (2011)
Vale Italia (2011)
Vale Carajas (2012)
Vale Malaysia (2012)
Vale Minas Gerais (2012)
Vale Korea (2013)

STX Pan Ocean ships:
Vale Beijing (2011)
STX Jinhae 1702 (2012)
STX Jinhae 1703 (2012)
STX Jinhae 1704 (2012)
STX Jinhae 1705 (2012)
STX Jinhae 1706 (2012)
STX Jinhae 1707 (2012)
STX Jinhae 1708 (2013)

Jiangsu Rongsheng ships:
Vale China (2011)
Vale Dongjiakou (2012)
Vale Dalian (2012)
Vale Caofeidian (2012)
Vale Hebei (2012)
Vale Jiangsu (2012)
Vale Majishan (2012)
Vale Ningbo (2012)
Vale Rizhao (2012)
Vale Shandong (2012)
Vale Shanghai (2012)
Vale Tianjin (2012)

Oman Shipping ships, also from Jiangsu Rongsheng:
JAZER (2011)
KAMIL (2012)
WAFI (2012)
YANQUL (2012)

[holedrille]

Tanker 'Sea Emperor' appears to be alongside Vale Beijing off Ponta da Madiera.
13000 ton, what would she be doing. Ship to ship transfer of fuel off Beijing to lighten ship?
Holedriller

[kyle pesely]

or perhaps replenishing some of the fuel she's used while sitting offshore?

[Mats]

Lots of interesting pictures of "Vale Beijing" here, including the temporary conveyor belt on deck and the transhipment of bunkers to "Sea Emperor":

http://www.al.ma.gov.br/fotosgallery/indexfotos3.php?photoid=347#

(Right click + press "save target" on the thumbnail to save the big photos)

[Sailerman]

The story is as follows, debunkering 3000T fuel, empting hold #7 and fix leak.
Maybe towed to Rotterdam for drydocking, sofar available info. More later

[holedrille]

How are they going to empty hold no 7?
Apparently there are no unloading facilities at PDM.
If going to Rotterdam why not under own power (but they have unloaded the fuel!)
Could the presence of ocean going tug Fairmount Alpine moored 2 km away throw any light on the situation? Questions questions.
Holedriller

[Fred Vloo]

...under tow to Rotterdam, unloading and then docking? I feel een new thriller coming up ;-)

Cheers Fred

[Sailerman]

Sorry, I failed to mention ore tranfer to holds 3 &5 if I remember right.
Hence to conveyor and other evidence like the clamshells on deck.
I guess they are waiting now is for a crane ship. I will keep an eye on their local newspapers. The bulker may not have been fully loaded!

The other VALE in Rotterdam currently, I don't think arrived with its max load.
Unloaded some at Taranto first, considering its routing.Because of it's very low draft
not possible in the Water way 'waterweg', 1/2 meter bottom clearance is a bit risky.

[Tuomas Romu]

The bulker may not have been fully loaded!

260,000 tons.

I don't think arrived with its max load. Unloaded some at Taranto first, considering its routing.Because of it's very low draft not possible in the Water way 'waterweg', 1/2 meter bottom clearance is a bit risky.

From the pictures it looks like the ship arrived with maximum draught. Also, I don't remember anyone mentioning that she stopped in the Mediterranean on the way to Rotterdam.

[victor radio74]

The VALE RIO DE JANEIRO went from Ponta da Madeira to Rotterdam with a bunkering call at Tenerife.No Mediterranean at all ,rgds