Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has ordered a massive iron ore carrier newbuilding priced at over $80m on the back of a long-term transportation deal with Nippon Steel to ship iron ore from Brazil to Japan.

Japan's Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co is to build the huge 323,000-dwt ore carrier for delivery in the second half of 2007.

An artist's impression of the giant ore carrier.