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The commercial debut of Yong Jiang brought to the coast of Santa Catarina an unusual operation, marked by a newly delivered ship, Brazilian agricultural cargo, maritime tradition, and direct connection with China, the main destination for soybeans shipped from the Port of São Francisco do Sul.
Fresh from the shipyard, the Chinese ship Yong Jiang chose the Port of São Francisco do Sul in Northern Santa Catarina as the destination for its first commercial voyage before returning to China with 66 thousand tons of soybeans.
In the same week, the Santa Catarina terminal celebrated its 69th anniversary on July 1, 2024, which gave the operation additional symbolic weight within the institutional program released by the port itself on July 3 of that year.
Valued at approximately US$ 40 million, the vessel arrived in Brazil on its so-called maiden voyage, a term used in the maritime sector to identify the first voyage of a ship after its delivery to the operator.
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According to the administration of the Port of São Francisco do Sul, the cargo ship had left the shipyard in May 2024 and headed directly to the Santa Catarina terminal, where it began its commercial life with Brazilian cargo.
By combining operational debut, agricultural export, and international route, the stopover attracted attention for connecting the coast of Santa Catarina to a logistics chain that ends in the Chinese market, a relevant destination for soybeans produced in Brazil.
According to data released by the terminal, the return trip to Asia was estimated at 35 days, during which the Brazilian cargo would cross oceans after leaving the Santa Catarina quay.
Chinese ship loaded Brazilian soybeans in Santa Catarina
Built to transport solid bulk cargo, the Yong Jiang is a bulk carrier, a type of ship used in operations with grains, minerals, and other products moved in large volumes in international maritime trade.
With 229 meters in length and a total capacity of 83 thousand tons, the vessel is compatible with global commodity routes, where few ships concentrate high volumes of cargo per trip.
In São Francisco do Sul, the holds received Brazilian soybeans destined for China, a country that ranks among the main buyers of the product exported by Brazil and supports an important part of this commercial flow between South America and Asia.
Behind the boarding, the operation depended on the integration between farms, warehouses, land transport, port structures, and maritime agents, a chain that needs to work in a coordinated manner before the cargo reaches the ship.
Manufactured in Nantong, China, the Yong Jiang was produced by a consortium formed by Chinese and Japanese shipowners, including Nantong Cosco and KHI Ship, according to the Santa Catarina port authority.
This data reinforces the presence of the Asian naval industry on international transport routes, including operations that start on the other side of the world and find in Brazilian ports the first commercial destination.
Although soybean shipments are part of the routine of foreign trade, the presence of a brand-new vessel made the stopover less common for the Santa Catarina terminal and for port logistics coverage.
After leaving China and crossing oceans to Santa Catarina, the freighter began its operational life with Brazilian agricultural cargo and returned to the country where it had been built months earlier.
Anniversary of the Port of São Francisco do Sul amplified the symbolism
The passage of the Yong Jiang coincided with the celebration of the 69th anniversary of the Port of São Francisco do Sul, celebrated on July 1, 2024, in a week marked by institutional actions of the terminal.
With this coincidence, the inaugural voyage gained additional value for the port administration, as it positioned the Santa Catarina terminal as the first point of commercial operation of a newly delivered ship in Asia.
During the docking, the 21 Chinese crew members were welcomed by port representatives in a ceremony that marked the vessel’s passage through the Santa Catarina quay during its first commercial operation.
At the official reception, Commander Xu Mingang received a commemorative plaque delivered by directors Guilherme Medeiros, from Operations, and Lindomar Dutra, from Administration, according to the terminal’s announcement.
In maritime culture, this type of tribute usually accompanies inaugural voyages, when the first port to receive the vessel records the debut and recognizes the crew responsible for the initial operation.
The tradition helps to differentiate a common stopover from a maiden voyage, as the ship comes to have in that port the symbolic milestone of the beginning of its commercial journey.
In a statement released by the port administration, President Cleverton Vieira stated that the arrival of the freighter on its first voyage showed the prestige of Santa Catarina ports and the confidence in the work of local teams.
The statement also attributed the operation to the effort of maritime agents, operators, and professionals working at the terminal, responsible for enabling the movement of cargo and the reception of large ships.
Soybean export connects Santa Catarina port to Asia
On the scale of the Yong Jiang, a vessel built in China, with participation from an Asian consortium, Chinese crew, and Brazilian agricultural cargo brought together, in the same episode, shipbuilding, agribusiness, and port logistics.
This combination helps to show how modern maritime trade operates in international networks, where the construction of the ship, the origin of the cargo, and the final destination can involve different countries.
The capacity of 83 thousand tons of the freighter also highlights the complexity of the operation carried out in Santa Catarina, especially because the shipment involved 66 thousand tons of soybeans in a single trip.
For this volume to reach the quay, it is necessary to coordinate the arrival of trucks or other modes, storage, berth planning, operator performance, and docking window without compromising port safety.
Located on the northern coast of Santa Catarina, the Port of São Francisco do Sul acts as one of the cargo outflow points in the South of the country, including products destined for foreign trade.
Upon receiving the first voyage of the Yong Jiang, the terminal became part of a route that directly connected Brazilian soy production to Asian consumption and industry, with a return scheduled for China.
More than a routine operation, the stopover showed that newly delivered ships often have their debut recorded by ports because the maiden voyage marks the beginning of the vessel’s commercial life.
In the case of the Yong Jiang, this beginning occurred in Santa Catarina, with a newly built ship, strategic cargo, and a relevant institutional date for the terminal that received the vessel on its first voyage.
