Metro Mining’s newly acquired offshore floating terminal Ikamba commenced cargo operations at its Cape York bauxite site yesterday, loading capesize vessel Jewel.

Bringing a tripling in transhipping capacity, OFT Ikamba is key to the expansion project that is taking Metro’s Bauxite Hills operation on the Skardon River out to 7 million wet metric tonnes per annum.

Screened bauxite from the mine, 95km north of Weipa, is loaded onto barges and towed down the Skardon River to an anchorage point at sea where it transhipped to freight vessels.

Metro said Ikamba would work in tandem with the single floating crane barge TSA Skardon to optimise ship loading in 2024.

The addition of Ikamba enables the faster loading of vessels, loading of larger vessels, and its size means it can operate safely in more difficult weather conditions.

“It has been over a year since Ikamba was loading bauxite off the West African coast,” Metro chief executive officer and managing director Simon Wensley said.

“After travelling halfway around the world and undergoing a refurbishment in China, it is exciting to see it in operation at Skardon River.

“My thanks to our truly professional team that has contributed to this epic journey.”

The 132m long and 28m wide Ikamba departed Weipa on April 25 to complete its final stage of mobilisation to Skardon River.

The cargo handling system comprises two heavy duty electric cranes from E-Crane, a conveyor system from MacGregor and a ship loading boom able to cover up to three holds of vessels up to Newcastlemax size.

Related: Full steam ahead for Metro expansion plan

Metro said the system nameplate capacity was peak loading 3000 tonnes per hour with expected operational throughput of up to 2000 WMT per hour compared to TSA Skardon’s nameplate capacity of 1000 WMT per hour.

Below: Ikamba alongside Jewel for its first cargo barge unloading.

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