Posted on 01/08/2012 9:23:20 PM PST by bruinbirdman
Hmm. There is a capsize in Capesize.
Because--last time I checked--neither of those places are actually in China, the destination for that load.
The Brazilians built them to ship their iron ore to China. The Chicaps dis not build them
The reason was they needed to lower the cost of delivery to compete with Australian miners.
Un mentioned was what will happen when the Ausies get bigger ships?
How much would it take to convert into an aircraft carrier?
It’s really an amazing thing. They could do an entire hour of a “how it’s done” kind of show on that and I would watch it. From how it’s manufactured to how it is installed and the operation and maintenance of it.
I wouldn't say "dwarf". At 400,000 tons (the biggest of the Valemax fleet), would be quite a large ship. But, yes, the biggest oil tankers are larger.
Also, keep in mind, the ships are typically measured in dead weight tons. Meaning, with it fully loaded, which the 400,000 tons is the measurement of it loaded. And historically, some oil tankers have approached 600,000 dead weight tons when fully loaded.
However, the largest of the ships in the Valemax fleet at 400,000 dwt, is about (or will be) 200,000 tons. And the largest oil tankers, when empty, aren't significantly heavier, maybe 270,000 tons. At least not to a point where one would say it would dwarf the largest Valemax ships. The one described in this article is about 350,000 dwt.
Right-o! Once upon a time though, WE made the steel, and China made.....rice and tea;)
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