This week we saw the arrival of The Cape Orchid to Saldanha Bay, a massive 300-metre long, Japanese-built bulk carrier that will be transporting our iron ore to our Asian Markets. This massive maritime machine is capable of carrying up to 175,000 tonnes of ore in one voyage.
The ship is owned by South African operator Vuka Marine, a joint venture between Via Maritime Holdings of South Africa and K-Line of Japan, and is registered in Port Elizabeth.
Norman Mbazima, chief executive officer at our Kumba Iron Ore business says, “We’re proud to be witnessing this historic moment for South Africa, and for Anglo American and Kumba Iron Ore to be the Cape Orchid’s first customer. Vuka Marine has achieved a key milestone for this country and we look forward to a strong partnership. It is through these type of partnerships that we’re able to further support job creation and the growth of South Africa’s economy.”
What makes The Cape Orchid so remarkable is the fact that it’s the first merchant vessel to be registered under the South African flag since 1985. Not only this, but it’s the first non-government, South African flagged ship to take local cadets on board in over a decade.
The cadets will sail with the ship for six months as part of their officer training programme. Andrew Mthembu, chairman of Vuka Marine says it’s important for the country to attract ships onto its register to help improve job creation and training prospects for South African seafarers.
To put this feat into perspective, South Africa has experienced a decline in its merchant fleet since the mid-1990s. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has prioritised a programme of action to reverse this trend, through initiatives such as Government’s Operation Phakisa that prioritises the attraction of ships onto the national register as a key aspect of achieving job creation and economic development in South Africa’s Ocean Economy.
This falls directly in line with our own goals as a business to unlock more value for all throughout our mining journey. It’s the ability of these South African shipping companies that make use of South African ships, which will help us unlock further value.
Discover how we use ships to mine diamonds in the Atlantic Ocean and learn more about our Iron Ore operations in South Africa.