Iron ore transshipment in Abu Dhabi, UAE
As the latest addition to the bulk logistics activities, OLDENDORFF CARRIERS and partners Emirates Ship Investment Company (Eships) set up Eships Oldendorff Logistic LLC in Abu Dhabi and commenced in January 2009 freight and transshipment operations under a 10-year contract with Emirates Steel Industries (ESI) in Abu Dhabi.
Up to 4.8 million tons per annum of iron ore pellets from Brazil, Canada and Bahrain is shipped in Capesize and Panamax bottoms to Abu Dhabi, where it is discharged 22 miles off-shore by a 77,000-tdw Panamax transshipment vessel (MV "E. Oldendorff"), which was converted in China for this purpose. The vessel is equipped with three side-mounted Liebherr MPG cranes of 45 tons capacity each together with deck hoppers, conveyors and a barge-loading boom, which transfers the ore into three shallow-draught self-propelled gravity-fed hopper self-unloading barges built in China.
With the assistance of fitted Verhaar-Omega jet thrusters and two Damen-type tugs with a bollard pull capacity of 40 tons each, these barges carry the iron ore pellets through the Mussafah Channel (6.0 metres in depth) to a jetty, where it is self-unloaded at a rate of 2,000 tons per hour in a very environmentally friendly manner into a shore receiving facility connected to the newly constructed Emirates Integrated Steel Complex.
Our track record
Over the years OLDENDORFF CARRIERS has built up a considerable area of activity within bulk logistics and project development. The company is engaged in several major transshipment projects around the globe, and is operating seven self-unloading bulk carriers. Through its experience with grab and belt self-unloading technology and its financial strength, OLDENDORFF CARRIERS is continuously developing further projects and is expanding its involvement in self-unloading trades, bulk shuttles, transshipment, top-off and lighterage operations, port development and other bulk logistics projects.
The gist of bulk logistics for OLDENDORFF CARRIERS is to assist clients in achieving their goals by designing, building and operating fast, reliable and cost-efficient logistic systems.
High ocean transportation costs and increasing throughput requirements combined with factors like draft limited ports, lack of port loading or unloading facilities and local environmental restrictions are driving shippers and receivers to think in terms of tailor-made logistic solutions. With a purposely designed system or vessel in place, substantial freight savings can be achieved and import/export volumes can be increased.
