Shanghai, 28 December 2011: Reuters

China has received the first of Vale's giant iron ore vessels, industry sources said on Wednesday, a major breakthrough for the Brazilian miner after months of uncertainty over the fleet's access to the world's top steelmaker.

Top iron ore exporter Vale is spending billions of dollars to build the world's biggest dry bulk ships to cut the cost of shipping the steelmaking ingredient to China, but until now had failed to gain Beijing's approval for the six vessels already on the water to even stop at a Chinese port.

Reuters Freightviews and independent shipping data showed Vale's vessel, Berge Everest, anchored off China's Dalian port with its draught measurements indicating it fully loaded with cargo. Industry sources said there was 350,000 tonnes of iron ore onboard, but it was not clear whether the vessel had clearance to unload. Vale officials in China and Brazil declined to comment on Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for the ship's owner, Singapore-based Berge Bulk, and Dalian port officials were not immediately available for comment.

China Nov iron ore imports at highest since Jan:

Vale's fleet has faced stiff opposition from influential Chinese shipowners and steelmakers, who fear the ships are a Trojan Horse which the miner will use to monopolise both the shipping and iron ore markets at their expense.  Vale's first mega bulk vessel, Vale Brasil, was forced to turn around in the Indian Ocean on its maiden voyage in June after the Chinese government failed to provide permission for the ship to dock at Dalian. It went to Taranto, Italy, instead.

China Shipowners Association has also raised concerns about the safety of the ships, after a leak was found on the Vale Beijing while it was preparing to set sail on its maiden voyage earlier this month.

"The China Shipowners Association has been aware of this since Monday and now is trying to get a clear picture of the whole story," an industry source said.

Shipping data this week initially showed the Berge Everest destined for a port in the Philippines after a brief stop earlier in Singapore.

Vale is planning to build a fleet of 35 giant vessels, each with capacity of around 400,000 tonnes, to feed top importer China's growing demand for the commodity. China is expected to import around 720 million tonnes of iron ore in 2012, up from 679 million tonnes in 2011, according to a Reuters poll.

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By Ruby Lian and Randy Fabi, Reuters - for Commodities Now