en.Wedoany.com Reported - SimFer (a joint venture between the Government of Guinea, Rio Tinto, and the CIOH consortium led by Aluminum Corporation of China) has named its first transshipment vessel for the Simandou project as Wontanara. This is the first of five dedicated transshipment vessels that will be deployed at the Port of Morebaya in Guinea to support maritime operations for the Simandou project, which is Africa's largest greenfield mining and related infrastructure project.

Each transshipment vessel can transport over 40,000 tonnes of iron ore from the port to offshore ocean-going vessels. Built by Chengxi Shipyard Co., Ltd., Wontanara is the world's fastest self-unloading vessel, capable of handling over 12,000 tonnes of iron ore per hour, and is also the first self-unloading vessel with bi-directional sailing capability. The vessel measures 215 meters in length, has a cargo capacity exceeding 40,000 tonnes, is specifically designed for shallow-water operations, and is equipped with five thrusters, allowing maneuverability without tugboat assistance.

Chris Aitchison, Managing Director of SimFer, stated that this vessel represents years of engineering, collaboration, and commitment from teams in Guinea and China. Wontanara means "we are together" in the local language, a name that captures the essence and spirit of cooperation of the project. He thanked partners including the SimFer team, Canada Steamship Lines (CSL), and Chengxi Shipyard, and acknowledged the ship's godmother, Nene Hawa Baldé, noting that she embodies the values of responsibility, care, and unity. The first crew includes SimFer's inaugural cohort of Guinean seafarer cadets, who received training at Quanzhou Ocean Institute, with the training program supported by SimFer's maritime partner, Cosco Shipping.