ONE of the world’s largest dedicated woodchip bulkers has arrived at the Tasmanian port of Bell Bay.
The Singapore-flagged China Express (IMO 9861237), was launched earlier this year, the 215metre ship being the first of its kind to call in Tasmania.
It has a total cargo capacity of 60,000 tonnes.
TasPorts chief executive Anthony Donald said the arrival of China Express showed the strength of collaboration within the forestry sector and a focus by TasPorts on supporting and enabling customer-driven logistics solutions.
“In August 2020, TasPorts and Midway Limited, a leading Australian processor and exporter of wood fibre products, entered into a partnership to enable additional exports of wood fibre from the Port of Bell Bay, to new and emerging markets,” Mr Donald said.
“The arrival of China Express is this partnership in action.”
Mr Donald said the partnership also enabled Midway to establish its own wood fibre processing and export facility at Bell Bay, with exports expected to start next year.
“Midway has a long history of new start up projects, offering an open access export service for other Tasmanian forest owners providing the opportunity to co-mingle woodchip and biomass products for export,” he said.
“TasPorts and Midway are pleased to be working together to facilitate a fit-for-purpose logistics solution.”
China Express is scheduled to depart on Sunday, 4 October 4 laden with 58,000 tonnes of plantation woodchips. China Express left China on 12 September 2020.
