Brazil’s Porto Sudeste has been officially commissioned having sent off its first iron ore shipment to China.

The announcement comes following several delays, including the one in January this year, as the port operators were waiting for a navy permit.

As informed, the Porto Sudeste began to receive iron ore to be used on the first shipment for the terminal at the end of August. In total, 80 thousand tons of iron ore were brought by seven rail cars from Minas Gerais.

The bulk carrier AM Ghent docked at Port Sudeste on 26 August, where it remained until the afternoon of September 2nd, when it departed loaded with the cargo to China.

“Porto Sudeste is one of the main logistics initiatives developed in Brazil. The terminal is integrated with MRS Logistica railway line, allowing the iron ore to be transported to Rio de Janeiro coast and from there head to international markets. Consequently, the project strengthens the logistics of Brazil and enables the flow of the domestic iron ore production“, said Eugenio Mamede, Porto Sudeste’s COO.

The port said that this commissioning served as a major test of all structures and port facilities working together.

Porto Sudeste has current capacity to receive, handle and carry 25 million metric tons of iron ore per year, which will increase to a nominal capacity of 50 million metric tons by the end of the year.

Porto Sudeste, a private port terminal in Ilha da Madeira, Itaguaí, Brazil., is jointly owned by global terminal operator Impala and Mubadala Development Company who together hold 65 percent, and MMX Mineração e Metalicos SA which retains a 35 percent share.

(From: World Maritime News)