The CSL Group (CSL) has announced a 21-year strategic partnership with BCI Minerals Limited (“BCI”) to build and operate an innovative transhipment vessel to support the Mardie Salt and Potash Project (Mardie Project).

As part of CSL’s comprehensive transhipment solution, the custom-designed transhipper will handle 5.35 million metric tons of salt and 140,000 metric tons of sulfate of potash per year. Loading will take place at BCI’s jetty loadout facility in Cape Preston, Western Australia, with the vessel navigating 12-15 nautical miles to transfer the cargo to ocean-going ships from Handysize to Newcastle Max.

New Vessel Highlights

• Shallow draft to maximize cargo lift within tide and channel constraints
• Total deadweight of approximately 16,000 metric tons
• Gravity discharge, suitable for loading salt, sulfate of potash and other dry bulk commodities onto ocean-going vessels with a deadweight of up to 207,000 metric tons
• High maneuverability, with double-ended propulsion
• Four azimuth drives and an integrated diesel-electric propulsion and powering system
• Single-point loading system with a loading rate of 3,300 metric tons per hour
• Self-unloading system with a discharge rate of 4,000 metric tons per hour

Construction of the new vessel will begin in spring 2026 with delivery scheduled in mid-2027. In the interim, beginning in the second half of 2026, CSL will provide a vessel on time charter to deliver transhipment services to the Mardie Project while the new dedicated vessel is under construction.