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The barge operations (Cotransmine) |
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Cotransmine, another subsidiary company fully owned by the SMSP that is placed under the responsibility of Victor TOULANGUI, ensures the loading operations of the ore supplied by the joint venture Nickel Mining Company SAS (NMC).
Mineral ore due for export is loaded onto ore tankers moored near the storage centres. The distance between ore tanker mooring points and barge loading wharves varies according to the geographical location and characteristics of the points of embarkation. It is about 5 to 6 km on the West Coast and generally less than 1 km on the East Coast.
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Ore transportation
The ore is transported alongside the tankers by barges and tugs and the tanker cranes are then used to load it into the hold.
SMSP’s fleet under the leadership of Christophe MORACCHINI, Manager of the subsidiary Contransmine, comprises 9 x 350 to 900 HP tugboats, 24 mining barges with a payload capacity of 250 to 330 tonnes and 2 slipways for fleet maintenance. Two new tugboats and 11 barges have been added to the fleet.
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Shipping resources
Shipping resources are spread over four centres.
The technical centre that looks after the fleet maintenance is located in the bay of Numbo.
The ports of Téoudié and Poya are used as loading bases for the West coast.
The ports of Kouaoua and Nakety are the loading bases for ore produced in the East Coast mining centres.
Shipping resources include maintenance and navigation staff. There are 17 maintenance staff members (mechanics, welders, boiler makers, sand-blasters & painters) spread between the Numbo, Téoudié, Poya, Nakety and Kouaoua facilities.
The navigation team can quickly mobilise 40 staff members for ore tanker loading operations: 9 qualified or special ship’s officers (captains and motormen) and 32 casual crew members drawn from a pool of 60 to 70 people
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Cotransmine