Ore Zhanjiang berths at Port of Ponta da Madeira in Brazil. [Photo by Liao Huayi/gdzjdaily.com.cn]

Ore Zhanjiang, the first 400,000 tonner ultra-large ore carrier named after Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, berthed at Port of Ponta da Madeira in Brazil at 2:43 pm on June 30 local time.

The ore carrier departed from Singapore Port on May 11 and arrived in open waters of Brazil on June 13. The iron ore loading with a total weight of 390,220 tons was expected to last for two days. Afterwards, it planned to make a return voyage at 12:55 pm on July 2 local time.

According to Liao Huayi, captain of Ore Zhanjiang, the destination was yet to be determined. However, only ports in Zhoushan, Qingdao and Dalian have the capability to berth 400,000-ton ships at present.

Ore Zhanjiang was officially put into service in Qingdao, Shandong province on April 30. The ship is 362 meters in length and can load 660 train carriages each weighing 60 tons. The load draught in summer can reach 23 meters, equaling the height of eight floors.

Major government officials led a delegation to visit the headquarters of China Merchants Group in Hong Kong at the end of 2018 for mutual strategic cooperation and promoting Zhanjiang around the globe. The Ore Zhanjiang is an outcome of the visit serving for Vale of Brazil.

The operation of the ship will help upgrade Zhanjiang Port, facilitate Zhanjiang's development under the Belt and Road Initiative, attract travelling merchants from home and abroad, and advance Zhanjiang's contribution in constructing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.