Star Shipping naming a first in North America

Vancouver: The Port of Vancouver welcomes today Star Shipping and Masterbulk's breakbulk ship, the M.V. Okiana, the first time ever Star Shipping has named a ship in North America.

"In a competitive environment where there are many ports to choose from, it is an honour to be chosen by Star Shipping and Masterbulk to be host port for this christening," said Captain Gordon Houston, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Port Authority. "Breakbulk cargo such as forest products form a crucial component of our provincial economy and a critical sector of the business of the Port of Vancouver. Todays christening speaks to the important historic ties this Port has with breakbulk cargo. It also speaks to the future potential of this port and the confidence we have that transportation can be the next great growth industry in our province."

The christening takes place today at Canada Place at 10:45 a.m.

Breakbulk is the term used for cargo that is loaded directly into the hold of a ship piece-by-piece. Forest products such as wood pulp, lumber, logs and machinery are examples. In 2003, breakbulk shipments through the Port of Vancouver totaled 3.2 million tonnes. By 2020, the VPA estimates breakbulk shipments will climb by 32 per cent to 4.2 million tonnes. Each breakbulk ship that passes through the Port of Vancouver generates 30 jobs in Western Canada. In total, breakbulk handling accounts for 3,640 direct jobs annually.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading $29 billion in goods with more than 90 trading economies each year. Port activities generate 62,000 jobs in total with $1.6 billion in Gross Domestic Product and $3.5 billion in economic output. Last year, 66.7 million tonnes were shipped through the Port of Vancouver.

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Background on the Star Okiana

Star Okiana is the third vessel out of a series of four panamax beam openhatch ships built at Oshima Shipyard in Japan for Masterbulk Pte. Ltd of Singapore. She is 48,000 dwt with 11 holds/hatches 2 of which has pontoon tweendecks to optimize flexibility of stowage. The pontoons can be set a various positions. The ship, like her sisters, has two gantry cranes of 68 mt each. These are the biggest gantry cranes in the world by Kone/Munck capable of lifts of 32 units of 8 bale pulp, double the capacity of other openhatch ships. The improved loading and discharging capacity is an ongoing effort to remain cost competitive particularly towards containers. Star Okiana also has the latest in air dehumidifying equipment for the cargo holds. The cranes have full rain protection for the working holds including side and end curtains.

She has bow thruster and stern thruster as well as Schilling rudder, enabling her to dock and undock without assistance of tugs. With her beam and shallow draft she can carry 4,000 tons more cargo through the Panama Canal compared with most other openhatch gantry ships.

She will sail in the Star Shipping openhatch pool and regularly call on Vancouver for pulp cargoes to the Mediterranean. Star shipping is owned 50 percent by Masterbulk, Singapore and 50 percent by Grieg International, Bergen. Grieg will also add two newbuildings to the Star Shipping pool later this summer who will also have 68 mt gantry cranes.

Star Shipping has been in Vancouver since the early 60's and has more than 80 ship calls each year here.


For more information, please contact:

Anne McMullin
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Vancouver Port Authority
(604) 665-9069 (office)
(604) 665-9073 (fax)
(604) 218-1403 (cellular)
anne.mcmullin@portvancouver.com

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