re: Ann: Offshore bulk commodity loading succ...
The containers are being used to minimise dust during loading, not discharge. If the ore could be loaded into the barge without creating dust, they would use that method, as grabs are commonly for self-loading of bulk ships. After filling the containers, they are then loaded onto the barges for the short trip out to the ship. Once this system has reached its maximum limit, (around 3.5 M tonnes/year) they will change over to a bulk system, but that will require a large shed in which to load the barges. The shed will be negatively pressurised to suck in air thus no dust escapes. This is currently being used in Port Hedland (as well as other places) to offload trucks of copper ore onto a conveyor. The ore trucks will drive into the shed and tip onto a conveyor which will then carry the ore into the barge inside the shed. The sea conditions that far up the Spencer Gulf are fairly benign, little swell arrives that far up from the open ocean, only wind chop, which can be alleviated by the lee of the vessel.The crane barge wont move enough to make unloading a problem. This has already been the subject of an extensive feasibility study which looked at sea state, currents, prevailing winds using historical data. There is no doubt a bulk system will speed the ship loading significantly, a 24 hour operation using the ship's grabs.Good to see some buying support today, 27% increase in the sp. When one considers the profit after opex will be around 50-60/tonne, first year profit 50-60M. Second year double if IO prices remain at this level. I believe more savings are possible with triple trailer trucks and an extra barge. The bulk method will further increase cost saving in stage 3. All considered, they are making solid progress towards the first shipment of ore albeit a year late.
TYX Price at posting:
26.5¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
