Gearbulk gets worlds largest liquid pitch carrier

Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal), one of the world?s largest aluminium producers, has entered into a 10-year chartering agreement with Gearbulk for the world’s largest liquid pitch supply vessel with deadweight of 15,000 tonnes.

The $32 million vessel, ?Sunbird Arrow?, built by Tokushima-based Japanese shipbuilder Kanrei Shipbuilding, was floated on May 24, 2005 in Tokushima. As the largest liquid pitch supply vessel of its kind in the world, the newbuilding will transport liquid pitch for Dubal which already has its own ‘Dock’ facilities at the Jebel Ali Port. From here the liquid pitch will then be carried overland in specially designed tankers, directly to Dubal complex. The Dubal ‘Dock’ at Jebel Ali Port has the capacity to handle all types of shipped goods, up to a massive 1,320,000 tonnes of alumina and 300,000 tonnes of petroleum coke per year.

Sunbird Arrow, which will have a turnaround time of 42 days, will be used exclusively by Dubal for up to 8-10 voyages a year. The vessel is custom-built especially to carry the liquid pitch which can only be transported at a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius and Gearbulk is one of the few shipping companies which have the necessary technical experience and track record to execute a project of this magnitude. The vessel also has the capacity to carry cargo up to 250 degrees C and will form part of Dubal’s long-term plan to source liquid pitch supplies from other resource-rich regions. Currently, Sunbird Arrow will be used for transporting supplies from Japan and South Korea. Dubal is also eyeing supplies from China and India apart from other regions. At present, vessels that transport liquid pitch number only eight in the international market.