A vessel operated by Cosco Shipping Specialised Carriers departed last week from Suzhou in eastern Jiangsu province on its maiden voyage to the strategic gateway, with the journey expected to take about 32 days in total, according to local media outlet Suzhou Daily.
The ship, named Greensuape, is carrying more than 30,000 tonnes of cargo, including energy storage cabinets, jumbo bags, steel round bars and other equipment. The new direct shipping route will run once a month.
Unlike container ships, which specialise in standardised cargo and are known for their efficiency, break-bulk carriers transport irregular and oversized goods loaded individually.
The vessel’s main cargo – grinding balls used to crush ore into fine powder – will be supplied directly to mineral processing plants in Chancay to “safeguard the stable operation of the local mining industry chain”, according to Suzhou Daily.
