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Sold en bloc with 3 sisterships to chinese buyers for $423M ORE DONGJIAKOU / ORE SHANDONG / ORE HEBEI

Medevac off Cape Town

On May 2, 2015, at 5 p.m. the NSRI ASR (Air Sea Rescue) was placed on alert by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to prepare to medevac a 47 year old Indian crewman, suffering a suspected heart attack, from the "Ore China" at first light on May 3. The vessel, sailing from Tubarao to Singapore, had diverted from deep sea to sail closer to Cape Town for the patient evacuation after reporting to authorities on May 1 in the morning after the crewman suffering a suspected heart attack, and although in a stable condition the patient required transportation to the nearest medical facility. An SA Air Force 22 Squadron Oryx helicopter accompanied by NSRI ASR rescue swimmers and a WC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic departed the Ysterplaat Air Force Base at 10h04, Sunday, 03rd May, following a brief weather delay and landed on the deck of the ship seven nautical miles off-shore of Green Point, in a three meter sea swell and light North Westerly winds, and the patient, walking and in a stable and satisfactory condition, was taken aboard the helicopter and airlifted to Ysterplaat Air Force Base and he has been transported to a medical facility by representatives of the ships local agents. Report with photo: http://www.nsri.org.za/2015/05/flare-sighting-lamberts-bay-patient-evacuation-table-bay/

China's new port rules continue to be a setback for valemaxes

China's ministry of transport has issued new port regulations touching on berthing rules for larger vessels, limiting them to a maximum of 250,000 dwt in capacity. The revised new rules are likely a reaction to Vale's mega-sized 400,000 dwt VLOC, or valemaxes, that entered Chinese ports back in December 2011 and April 2012, leading to a string of protests, especially from China Shipowners' Association (CSA), regarding safety issues at the ports. The ministry stated in the revised regulations that dry bulk carriers of more than 250,000 dwt in capacity must not be fully loaded if they wish to berth at Chinese ports. The ministry pointed out that the ruling would have minimal impact as most vessels calling at the ports are below 250,000 dwt in size. The regulations, however, will mean that the fully-loaded 400,000 dwt VLOCs would be denied entry into Chinese ports. Analysts have commented that the valemaxes are typically loaded to a capacity of 300,000-350,000 dwt, which are still above the 250,000 dwt load limit set by Beijing. CSA has repeatedly criticised Vale of trying to monopolise the transportation of iron ore sold to China and influence freight rates, under the guise of the company's attempt to mitigate its exposure to volatile rates. Back in December 2011, Vale's valemax Berge Everest first entered the Chinese port of Dalian and encountered safety breaches when cracks surfaced on the ship's hull, prompting a backlash by CSA to lobby on denying entry to valemaxes into China. China's ministry of transport had then stiffened the guidelines on calls by supersized bulkers at Chinese ports. Source: Seatrade Global