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The
biggest vessel in the Malaysian
registry, Meridian Polaris owned by
Halim Mazmin Bhd, yesterday berthed
at Kemaman port on a maiden call to
discharge iron ore for Perwaja
Steel.
The
event was witnessed by the Minister
of International Trade and Industry,
Datuk Paduka Rafidah Aziz and more
than 100 invited guests.
The
150,000 deadweight tonne Capesize
vessel which measures about 270
metre long and has a width of 43
metre across its beam started
unloading 138,375 metric tonnes of
iron ore soon upon arrival and is
expected to fully discharge the
cargo over the next five days.
The
arrival of Meridian Polaris marks
the first time a
Malaysian-registered vessel of the
size calling at a local port and the
shipment carried by the vessel is
one of the single largest shipments
of cargo to be discharged at a
Malaysian port for a single shipper.
The
cargo is discharged through a grab
system and moved directly from the
vessel through an overhead a
conveyor system to Perwaja’s plant
about 700 metres away from the port
terminal.
According
to the executive chairman of HMB Tan
Sri Datuk Halim Mohammad, the
deployment of Malaysian flag carrier
fulfils a range of national
objectives.
He
said it helps prevent or stem the
outflow of foreign exchange as well
as contributes towards the
Government’s objective of
promoting greater national
self-sufficiency in shipping.
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