The MV United Eternity, currently loading coal at Neptune Terminals in Vancouver, is a 292m Bulk Carrier with a deadweight of 182,859 tonnes. A vessel of this length and capacity to carry cargo (deadweight) is classified as a Very Large Bulk Carrier (VLBC) and is mainly purpose-built for specific trades.
Loading bulk cargoes near residential areas, as in the case of Neptune Terminals located in North Vancouver, demands meticulous planning and coordination. All incoming trains at Neptune are unit trains, meaning they carry a single commodity. This and Neptune’s continuous loop rail track design, equip the terminal to alleviate the need for shunting and the noise associated with separating and re-connecting the railcars. The terminal also lubricates its tracks to minimize any squealing from train movements.
