Vale, the world’s biggest iron ore miner by volumes, took a significant step towards its goal of controlling all its shipping to China after it was confirmed that one of its huge new Valemax ships had been allowed to dock in the country for the first time.

A person familiar with the situation confirmed that the Berge Everest, owned and operated by Singapore-based dry bulk shipowner Berge Bulk, but chartered long-term to Vale, was allowed into the port of Dalian, north-east China, to unload on Wednesday.

The vessels, which at 380,000 to 400,000 deadweight tonnes are the largest dry bulk carriers ever built, had threatened to turn into a big embarrassment for Vale after the Chinese authorities refused to let the first vessel, the Vale Brasil, dock in June. The vessel had to turn around and head for Taranto, in Italy, The vessels have since been unloading in Malaysia and the Philippines, with smaller vessels taking the ore on to China.