Dubai Aluminium Co (Dubal), one of the world's largest aluminium producers, has signed a 10-year agreement with Gearbulk, an international shipping company, to charter the world's largest liquid pitch supply vessel, which can carry 15,000 tonnes.

"This initiative is in line with the current directives given by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister for Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubal, to ensure the company's long-term projects are executed effectively and as per the planned schedule," said Masood T. Al Ali, Dubal's general manager for supply. "This is also part of Dubal's constant endeavour to secure long-term supplies following the completion of our expansion process."

The Dh117.53 million Sunbird Arrow, the largest liquid pitch supply vessel in the world, will transport liquid pitch for Dubal, which has its own docking facilities at the Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. From here the liquid pitch will be carried over land in specially designed tankers directly to Dubal complex.

The Dubal dock at Jebel Ali Port can handle all types of goods, including up to 1,320,000 million tonnes of alumina and 300,000 million tonnes of petroleum coke a year.

Liquid pitch is mainly used as binder material for the production of anodes for the aluminium smelting industry.

Sunbird Arrow, which will have a turnaround time of 42 days, will be used exclusively by Dubal for up to 8-10 voyages a year. The vessel is custom-built to carry liquid pitch, which can only be transported at a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius. It can also carry cargo at even 250 degrees Celsius.

Sunbird Arrow, built by Japanese shipbuilder Kanrei Shipbuilding Co and owned by Funada Kaium Co, was floated on May 24 in Tokushima.

The vessel is also part of Dubal's long-term plan to source liquid pitch supplies from resource-rich regions. Currently, Sunbird Arrow will be used for transporting supplies from Japan and South Korea. Dubal is also eyeing supplies from China and India apart from other regions.

Dubal disinvested its solid pitch process from December 8 and began its irrevocable conversion to liquid pitch process at a total cost of Dh70 million to attain better environmental standards.

Dubal produces 760,000 tonnes of molten aluminium and it needs about 80,000 tonnes of liquid pitch a year.

Gearbulk is one of the few companies which has the necessary technical experience and track record to execute a project of this magnitude.