U-Sea Wollongong docks at Port Kembla MICHELLE WEBSTER 06 Mar, 2012 04:00 AM Even the pungent odour of freshly loaded coal could not strip away the crisp new-ship smell on board the U-Sea Wollongong yesterday. Marking the ship’s first visit to her namesake city, the 62,000-tonne vessel cut a fine figure inside the belly of Port Kembla Harbour as she prepared for her 20-day maiden voyage to India.
The bulk carrier is Gujarat NRE Coking Coal chairman Arun Jagatramka’s latest purchase, which he named in honour of his adopted city.
•Photo gallery of the U-Sea Wollongong
Berthing at Port Kembla Coal Terminal at midnight on Sunday, the ship was loaded with 60,000 tonnes of coal yesterday ahead of her departure early this morning. Gujarat NRE head of corporate relations Chris Harvey said the acquisition was an important milestone in the relationship
between the city and Mr Jagatramka’s homeland.
‘‘We see this representing a significant and important link between our mines and our customers. There’s not much point producing the coal and mining it if we can’t get it to where it’s needed,’’ he said.
Mr Harvey said the ship was a mark of the company’s commitment to the region and to guaranteeing long-term operations in the area.
In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange last month, Mr Jagatramka reported the company planned to start longwall mining at its Russell Vale coalmine from March 13.
However, the Department of Planning and Infrastructure has said extraction from two longwall panels should not occur until it grants approval for the mine’s major expansion project.
At the helm of the U-Sea Wollongong is 20-year ocean veteran Captain Jefferson Galam.
He said it was an honour to have been entrusted with the new vessel and had even brought his wife along for the trip.
‘‘The ship is very new, it’s very exciting, it’s my first time to board a new ship like this,’’ he said.
Plastic sheeting still covers the floors in the ship’s hallways, which are dotted with signs demanding no dirty shoes be worn in the area.
Capt Galam said the ship - with 20 crew on board, all from the Philippines - had spent 45 days anchored off the Illawarra coast waiting in the queue for loading.
The vessel’s maiden voyage was hit by rolling industrial action at the Port Kembla Coal Terminal.
Coal loading work returned to normal on February 23 when a dispute over a new enterprise agreement between terminal staff and management was resolved
A personalised tool to help users track selected stocks. Delivering real-time notifications on price updates, announcements, and performance stats on each to help make informed investment decisions.
(20min delay)