AD Ports + Vale to cooperate on mega hub and handling facility: The UAE’s ADPorts Group and Brazilian logistics operator and iron ore producer Vale have inked an MoU to develop a mega steelmaking hub in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi(KEZAD) and a handling facility in Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa port that can accommodate Valemax vessels, according to a press release. The statement did not disclose the timeline and costs of developing the mega hub and facility.

SOUND SMART-Valemax vesselsare part of Vale’s fleet of very large ore carriers (VLOC) — among the largest in the world — which it owns and charters, with a capacity ranging between 380k-400k tons, shipping agency Zey Marine writes.

About the handling facility: The facility is set to be capable of accommodating Valemax vessels, with a handling capacity of up to 50 mn tons of cargo a year, the statement says.

Also on the cards: AD Ports will develop and manage conveyor infrastructure to transport iron ore and finished product to and from KEZAD and Khalifa port, according to the statement.

The agreement includes exploring ways to cooperate on maritime transport and the management and operation of the VLOCs, as well as “other possible avenues of partnership,” according to the statement.

About the hub: The hub willproduce low-carbon products for the steelmaking industry for both local and overseas markets, the statement said.

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