Beira Mozambique

The Antipodean Mariner’s network is reporting progress at the new coal terminal in Beira. Berth 8 is a co-development by resource companies but will be operated by the Government port company CFM and stevedores Cornelder. Based on the site of a defunct minerals exporting berth, all traces of the old terminal have been erased and replaced with a modern, but basic, coal handling infrastructure.

When completed, the terminal will comprise a rail wagon unloading siding, yard stacker, two quadrant ship loaders and a single berth for up to SupraMax (55,000 DWT) bulk carriers.

The terminal is expected to be completed by February 2012 and will have a designed annual throughput of about 6 million tonnes of high grade coking coal for steel making. At this point, it is believed that the railway line linking the mines to the port will be the capacity constraint, and not the terminal.


Quadrant Shiploader South


Yard stacker which will build the stockpiles


Looking down the belt feeding the Stacker


Coeclierici's 'Bulk Zambesi' trans-shipper

Coal will be exported from Beira using two widely differing methods. Bulk carriers of up to 55,000 DWT will be able to load about 40,000 tonnes of coal at Berth 8, limited only by the draft at the berth and channel. Italian trans-shipment specialists Coeclierici have built two specialised trans-shippers which will load about 30,000 tonnes of coal at Berth 8, sail out from Beira and load Panamax and Capesize bulk carriers at anchorage off Beira.

The first trans-shipper, Bulk Zambesi is at Beira awaiting her first cargo with sister-ship Bulk Limpopo under construction in China. Both have been contracted to Vale for their coal exports.

The Antipodean Mariner