Ponta da Madeira
Ponta da Madeira , Terminal Marítimo de Ponta da Madeira in Portuguese , is a privately owned large iron ore loading port near São Luís in the state of Maranhão in northern Brazil . It is one of the few terminals in the country that is suitable for the extremely large Valemax ships .
The port is operated by the mining company Vale and is located next to the Itaqui public port. It was selected as the terminus of the Estrada de Ferro Carajás railway line , where trains unload iron ore for overseas transport, mainly to Europe and East Asia. The terminal, which borders the Bay of São Marcos, has a natural draft of 26 meters at low tide. The 14 meter tide difference was a significant problem due to the strong currents, but this was bypassed by placing underwater concrete breakers.
The terminal and port of Itaqui are still primarily iron ore ports, but other cargoes are increasingly being shipped as well, especially agricultural bulk cargo. The small container yard is overshadowed by the piles and operating areas of the iron ore yards, which are capable of handling ships up to 500 meters long and weighing 500,000 tons.
In recent years, Vale has announced plans to build huge steel mills next to the terminal. Especially in the nearby state capital of São Luís, whose colonial core is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , these plans have been heavily criticized for their environmental impact.
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 2 ° 33 ′ 54 ″ S , 44 ° 22 ′ 12 ″ W.