Guinea, a nation nestled in the heart of West Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, is a major player on the global bauxite stage. Today, Guinea accounts for more than 70% of global seaborne exports of bauxite. In 2023, Guinea bauxite exports surged 23% from the prior year, with China being the primary destination. One driver behind this growth is Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) subsidiary, Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC).
GAC’s expansive bauxite concession in northwest Guinea holds nearly 400mt (million tonnes) of this valuable resource in the area to be developed by 2040. In 2023 alone, GAC’s exports reached 14mt, exceeding 10% of the nation’s total bauxite exports. This impressive achievement hinges on a crucial logistical element: efficient transshipment solutions. Not only does transshipment ensure cost-effective transportation, it also lowers the environmental impact of global shipping.
THE CHALLENGE: SHALLOW WATERS AND BIG VOLUMES
GAC’s bauxite reaches the port of Kamsar, on the Nunez River, by train. Here, however, a key bottleneck to export efficiency emerges: Kamsar’s shallow waters restrict access for the largest dry bulk vessels. This is where transshipment steps in and emerges as a crucial link in the global supply chain.
After being unloaded from trains and temporarily stored, if needed, the bauxite is directed to a barge loading facility. Laden barges then travel to a deep-water anchorage, about 20 nautical miles off the coast. Here, specialized transshipment vessels take over and load Capesize and Newcastlemax vessels in ship-to-ship operations for transport to global destinations.
ROCKTREE TAKES THE HELM: EXPANDING CAPACITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Rocktree joined forces with EGA in 2022 to bolster transhipment capabilities. This included mobilizing the transshipment vessel, RT Leo, to work together with EGA’s fleet and acquiring additional tug and barge sets.
Recognizing Rocktree’s expertise and thanks to the successful operation during the first months, EGA nominated Rocktree as its main transshipment operator for the GAC project in 2023.
Rocktree now manages a fleet of vessels working alongside RT Leo, including the transshipment vessel Loura, four deck cargo ships, four tug and barge sets, and two assist tugboats. This integrated operation achieved a throughput of 14mt in 2023.
Giovanni Colotto, Head of Fleet for Rocktree, emphasizes the significance of this project: “The operation in Guinea is a cornerstone in Rocktree’s diversification strategy. It expands our geographic and operational footprint, solidifying bauxite as a core commodity for us. We are proud to partner with EGA and contribute to the development of Guinea’s economy by facilitating the competitive transport of Guinean bauxite.”
Abdessadek Karimi, Director – Inbound Logistics, Supply Chain Logistics for EGA, highlighted the criticality of the transshipment and barging services as part of the overall EGA supply chain: “Transshipment operations are fundamental in ensuring the continuous and efficient export of bauxite from Guinea. This translates to a reliable supply chain, allowing us to achieve both performance and sustainability targets. Rocktree’s expertise in managing the entire marine logistics chain, from barge unloading to rapid vessel loading, has guaranteed consistently fast vessel turnaround times.”
TRANSSHIPMENT PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS: EFFICIENCY AND CONSISTENCY
Rocktree’s transshipment operation has achieved impressive results since its inception in 2023; 16mt have been loaded across 90 separate loading operations, involving more than 1,350 barge cycles.
The average gross loading rate stands in excess of 35,000tpd (tonnes per day), translating to an average loading time of a Cape in around five days when cargo is available. Utilizing their cargo storage capabilities, RT Leo and Loura are able to continue loading even when a barge is not alongside. During a recent transshipment operation, RT Leo loaded more than 10% of the cargo from storage, completing loading of 175,000 tonnes in 3.25 days, an impressive gross loading rate of 54,000tpd.
THE TRANSSHIPMENT ADVANTAGE: A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION
The transshipment approach unlocks several key advantages. Firstly, it allows for the utilization of larger dry bulk vessels from the global fleet, even with limited port infrastructure. This translates to economic benefits for Rocktree’s clients by leveraging economies of scale and reducing overall transportation costs.
Transshipment also plays a vital role in decarbonization efforts. By enabling the use of larger, more fuel-efficient vessels, this transshipment solution has the potential to achieve about a 20% reduction in carbon emissions compared to direct shipping in smaller vessels. Based on 2023 shipments, this is estimated to save about 200,000 tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to planting ten million trees!
It’s noteworthy that transshipment vessels themselves contribute less than 2% of the total transportation emissions in the supply chain, highlighting the emissions reduction benefits of the solution.
Another key environmental benefit is the reduction in overall ship traffic. By enabling larger vessels to be loaded at Kamsar anchorage, transshipment reduces the number of vessels needed by 150 units, minimizing congestion and environmental impact.
SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR BAUXITE TRANSPORT
This successful collaboration between EGA and Rocktree demonstrates the importance of efficient logistics solutions in supporting large-scale mining operations. By optimizing transshipment processes, Rocktree is playing a key role in enabling EGA to meet its production and environmental targets for shipping.
BUILDING LOCAL EXPERTISE: A KEY FACTOR IN SUCCESSFUL TRANSSHIPMENT OPERATIONS
Transshipment operations differ significantly from standard shipping services. Unlike traditional shipping vessels that call at ports for short periods, transshipment necessitates a strong, sustained presence at the operational site. This includes establishing a network of local personnel, vendors, and a diversified local logistics structure.
This local focus fosters long-term benefits for the surrounding community. By engaging local suppliers and subcontractors — maritime agencies, port service providers, speed boat operators, repair workshops, provisions and spare parts suppliers, transfer services, and hospitality providers — transshipment operations contribute to the building up and strengthening of local satellite activities.
Transshipment combines the need for maritime experience and cargo handling expertise, and immediate on-board employment opportunities for local personnel may be limited. Recognizing this, Rocktree has taken a proactive approach. By establishing offices in Conakry and Kamsar, Rocktree has begun building a team of local resources specifically focused on shore-based roles. This team addresses crucial areas such as procurement and logistics management, administration and finance, IT services, and crewing support.
This commitment to local knowledge extends beyond initial hiring. Rocktree actively fosters long-term integration of the local community into the project. This includes knowledge transfer initiatives, skills enhancement programmes, and local business diversification opportunities. Ultimately, this strategy fosters a mutually beneficial relationship between Rocktree and the local community and contributes to the overall development and prosperity of the region.
ABOUT ROCKTREE
Rocktree is an owner and operator of a diverse global network of offshore floating terminals focusing on providing long-term solutions to our partners. It solves key ‘pinch-point’ areas in port infrastructure services.
Rocktree provides its customers with customized logistics solutions by performing transshipment of dry bulk commodities off-shore via transshipment and shuttle vessels, bridging the gap between on-shore port loading and shipping transportation.