Junior floats its boat in Lucky Bay
Iron ore junior IronClad Mining has signed an option agreement with Sea Transport Corporation for a multi user bulk shipping port. An innovative floating harbour sitting 5-10 kilometres off the coast is to be the centrepiece of what would be a South Australian first.
Wilcherry Hill is located in South Australia's Gawler Craton.
The floating harbour, to be located in Lucky Bay in the Spencer Gulf, will have capacity to load cape-sized vessels, with storage capacity of up to 150,000 tonnes. IronClad’s executive chairman, Ian Finch, announced the plans at the 2011 Paydirt conference. He said Sea Transport Corp. is currently preparing a development application.
“This is a significant announcement for South Australia’s future bulk shipping needs. It is a win-win situation for everyone, and is a very exciting project for all parties involved,” Finch said.
Both the port and floating harbour will provide the outlet and significant cost savings for the Wilcherry Hill Iron Ore project, an 80/20 JV between IronClad and Trafford resources.
Previously, IronClad planned to transport iron ore from the project via road to Whyalla, where it would be loaded onto rail to Port Adelaide, before being transferred to ships.
Using the facility, however, ore will be transported by road from Wilcherry Hill to Lucky Bay, from which it will be loaded onto a barge for transport to the floating harbour, and finally transferred to ships.
The Lucky Bay port option will reduce the distance between pit and ship from 540km to 154km. Finch said operating costs could fall from an approximate $85 to $65 per tonne.
The Joint Venture plans to export premium grade direct shipping ore from late 2011 and has a target rate of up to 2mtpa within two years.
Lucky Bay port will progress from an initial tug and barge system to motorised feeder barges, on-shore loading facilities and an off-shore floating harbour.
For the first two years, iron ore will be transported in containers by road to the port and transhipped in feeder barges, still in containers, to iron ore carriers equipped with cranes and dust suppression systems.
Ultimately, a bulk loading system will carry ore from the port to the floating harbour.
Contact: www.ironcladmining.com
