PROJECT: Iron Ore Export Terminal
& Master Plan
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce at the Port of
Ponta da Madeira, Sao Luis, Maranhao, Brazil

Successfully operating for more than 15 years, this facility has the largest linear loader in the world (16,000 tph capacity) capable of loading the largest bulk carriers in the world (365,000 DWT).

Soros Associates carried out initial feasibility studies for the iron ore port, evaluating potential port sites and transport systems, master planning of the port, basic engineering design services and technical advisory services during construction of the total port. The Ponta da Madeira site for the 35 million ton per year Carajas iron ore project was selected on the basis of extensive technical and economic studies carried out by Soros Associates.

Soros also carried out a study to investigate the technical/economic feasibility of constructing a second pier with the primary aim of accommodating smaller vessels (less than 150,000 DWT), thus freeing existing Pier No. 1 to load the larger vessels calling at the facility and thereby enabling it to realize its maximum capacity. The new pier was to load ores, mineral products, pig iron and grain and unload coal and coke fines. Container handling was also considered.After the iron ore port was constructed and operating at an annual throughput of 35 MTPY, Soros prepared a five stage Master Plan for the expansion of Port of Ponta da Madeira over ten to twenty years. Each stage of expansion was formulated with studies on the planned economic development and projected cargo flow from the Eastern Amazon region.

A wide range of cargo was to be handled, including general cargo, containers, iron ore, manganese ore, copper concentrate, coal, coke, grain, lumber, fertilizers, and steel products. Elements of the plan included 10 ship berths, breakwater protection, storage areas, cargo handling equipment and systems, transportation links, infrastructure, as well as provision for future industrial and manufacturing installations. The related studies included an assessment of natural conditions such as subsurface and oceanographic features, projections of type and size of vessels, calculation of berth occupancies and waiting time, and determination of economical types of construction.

In addition Soros carried out a Sedimentation Study and a Study of Vessel Mooring at the Port of Ponta da Madeira.

Principal Features:

• Five construction phases beginning with modification of the
  existing iron ore berth to handle, in addition to iron ore, such materials as pig iron and other non-bulk commodities. Subsequent phases involved addition of multi-product bulk berths and specialized berths to handle incoming and outgoing general break-bulk and unitized cargoes.

• Multi-purpose bulk material handling systems capable of accommodating a variety of cargoes requiring special handling features, such as pig iron and manganese ore, and capable of transporting material to several berths simultaneously.

• Some berths are capable of handling vessels up to 365,000 DWT under extreme conditions of tides and currents.

• Construction of shore side general cargo and bulk storage areas including vertical grain silos and horizontal grain storage.

• Construction of coke and sinter manufacturing plants.

• Installation of road and rail access to storage areas, with rail connection with the Carajas Railroad.

• The entire complex covered about 25 square kilometers of land area at Ponta da Madeira in the Baia de Sao Marcos on the northern coast of Brazil.

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