BHP-Billiton containerises nickel shipments between West Australia and Queenland

Another example of bulk shippers turning towards containerized options due to bulk vessels being too expensive.

AUSTRALIAN mining major BHP Billiton has started to containerise nickel in a service connecting Esperance, Western Australia to Townsville in Queensland 2,800 miles away, using the 1,388-TEU Spirit of Esperance, reports AXS Alphaliner News.
This service has been put into place to carry nickel produced at BHP Billiton's Ravensthorpe mine 170 kilometres from Esperance to the company's Yabulu nickel processing unit near Townsville.
In the first shipment, 4,000 tons of nickel was loaded in 180 containers after being trucked from the mine site.