Mining major Rio Tinto’s vessel has started a liner service between Dampier Port, Western Australia, and Singapore, using a multi-purpose vessel that has 618TEU capacity.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]The service mainly caters to Rio Tinto’s iron ore operations in Pilbara, but also carries third-party cargo, providing companies in the region with better access to international markets.
MCP Graz, the ship assigned to the service, set out from Dampier on 19 February 2021 and is scheduled to arrive in Singapore on 3 March.
The service will provide Rio Tinto with a quicker, cheaper and cleaner alternative to the existing freight delivery route via Perth.
Rio Tinto’s managing director of Port, Rail and Core Services, Richard Cohen, said, “This is an important new service that connects the Pilbara to the rest of the world via the major international shipping hub of Singapore. It’s an important breakthrough not only for our business, but it will also provide a great opportunity for the local Pilbara economy by helping to unlock small business growth and supporting job creation.”
Rio Tinto expects the service to reduce the sailing time for cargoes into the Pilbara by six to 10 days compared with freight via Fremantle. The service is also expected to provide an annual saving of around three million litres of diesel fuel by reducing road transport from Perth by more than 3.8 million kilometres.
Toll Global Forwarding and other freight forwarders will also transport smaller volumes on MCP Graz.
Toll Group’s president (global logistics) Peter Stokes said, “This dedicated container vessel service from Singapore to Dampier will enable enormous possibilities to deliver more efficient supply chains to the Pilbara region.”
MCP Graz Credit Serene Chong
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
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