Port-Cartier, Quebec, January 5, 2009 — ArcelorMittal Mines Canada awarded Captain Jovencio Castro, commander of the MV Princess Vanya, the traditional iron-headed cane for being the first transatlantic ore carrier to sail into the Company’s private Canadian harbour in 2009.
The MV Princess Vanya, built in 1989 and flying the Cypriot flag, docked at 2:00 p.m. on January 2nd. The vessel, which has a capacity of 70,329 deadweight tonnes and carries a Filipino crew of 26, headed back out to sea on January 4th after taking on 65,000 tonnes of iron pellets for ArcelorMittal Ostrava in Poland. It will take about ten days to reach its destination across the Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea.
“This shipment is the first of many ArcelorMittal Mines Canada looks forward to in 2009,” said Côme Desmeules, General Manager, Pellet Plant and Port. “Our port is still Canada’s largest private facility in terms of volume handled. It provides exceptionally efficient transhipment services and is highly appreciated by shipowners, so we are very proud to receive vessels like the MV Princess Vanya, which carry our quality products around the world.”
In 2008, the ArcelorMittal Mines Canada port received 411 ships and transhipped over 16 million tonnes of iron-ore concentrate and pellets as well as grain for shipment to customers in America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
About ArcelorMittal Mines Canada
ArcelorMittal Mines Canada is one of Canada's leading suppliers of iron ore to steel markets around the world, generating some 40 per cent of Canada’s total production. As both a mining and primary processing company, it operates extensive facilities on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence Gulf, in the Province of Quebec. Mont-Wright is where the Company operates one of the largest open-pit mines in North America, as well as an iron ore concentration plant. The site is linked by Company rail to the industrial complex of Port-Cartier, where rail workshops, an internationally competitive pellet plant, a private port and the Company’s corporate offices are located. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, the Canadian mining subsidiary of ArcelorMittal has built its reputation on the pursuit of excellence, quality products, the skills of its 2,200 talented employees and environmental leadership in the industry, as well as effective management that creates shareholder value. For more information, please visit www.arcelormittal.com/minescanada.