Largest Vessel Loaded in Freetown Harbour

On 12 May 2013 the Panamax vessel, MV ALAM PESONA, left Freetown harbour carrying over 83,000 tonnes of London Mining’s iron ore concentrate, the largest quantity ever to have been loaded in the harbour, vindicating the decision by the Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA) to authorize additional draft at the port. Sailing at a tide of 3.60 metres and a draft of 14 metres, the vessel exceeded the SLPA’s previously recognised draft at the harbour by nearly 10%.

This achievement tops an excellent start to 2013 by London Mining at its Marampa operations, which has seen record production and sales volumes for the first quarter, with production of iron ore concentrate up 29% on the previous quarter.

London Mining continues to expand its export capability; the arrival in April of the first of two sea-river vessels to carry concentrate-fines down the efficient Port Loko–Freetown marine channel is helping London Mining achieve an annualised export rate of over 6 million wet tonnes per annum, while the commissioning of the ‘Pride of Marampa’ floating offshore transhipment platform allowed loading of ungeared vessels to commence at the end of March, which further increased export capacity.

Hailing the efforts of the staff the company Managing Director (MD), Daniel Pop said, “As part of a programme of continuous improvements we are constantly reviewing and increasing logistics capability.” MD Pop also paid credit to the SLPA observing that, “Their co-operation has been crucial in helping London Mining meet its export targets from Sierra Leone”.

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