Rio Tinto-led SimFer has reached a major milestone in the development of Guinea’s world-scale Simandou iron ore project, with the naming of its first purpose-built transshipment vessel (TSV), “Wontanara.”

The naming ceremony was held with representatives from SimFer, Chinalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH), Simandou Port and Rail Management Company (SPSM), COSCO Shipping, China’s CSSC Chengxi Shipyard and other project partners in attendance.

“Wontanara,” meaning “we are together” in the Susu language, was named by Néné Hawa Baldé, a SimFer port team member, reflecting the partnership between Guinea and international project stakeholders behind the Simandou development.

The vessel will now sail to Guinea and become the first of five dedicated transshipment vessels to enter service for SimFer’s Morebaya Bay Port operations.

Each TSV is designed to transport more than 40,000 tonnes of iron ore per voyage from the port to offshore anchored bulk carriers. The vessels are equipped with dedicated self-unloading systems capable of unloading up to 12,000 tonnes per hour, among the fastest rates of any such system globally.

The 215-metre vessel has been specifically designed for shallow-water operations and features five thrusters, allowing it to conduct berthing and maneuvering operations without tug assistance.

The arrival of “Wontanara” marks another important step toward the planned ramp-up of Simandou, one of the world’s largest undeveloped iron ore deposits.

“Wontanara represents years of engineering, collaboration and commitment from teams in Guinea and China,” said Chris Aitchison, Managing Director of SimFer. “The name perfectly captures the spirit of partnership that has driven the Simandou project forward.”

A key element of the vessel’s deployment is also the development of local maritime capability. The first crew will include members of SimFer’s inaugural group of Guinean seafarer trainees, who completed professional maritime training at Quanzhou Ocean Vocational College in China through a program supported by COSCO Shipping.

The trainees will gain practical sea-going experience aboard “Wontanara,” forming part of SimFer’s long-term strategy to build local maritime expertise and support Guinea’s future shipping industry.

The Simandou project is being developed by partnerships involving the Government of Guinea, Rio Tinto, Chinalco Iron Ore Holdings and other partners. Once fully operational, it is expected to become one of the largest iron ore mining and export projects in the world, requiring a large-scale integrated logistics system connecting mines, railways and deep-water export facilities.

The deployment of specialized transshipment vessels highlights the increasingly important role of maritime infrastructure in unlocking large-scale mineral resources in regions with challenging coastal condition.