With the naming of the TSV Wontanara in China, a new chapter begins in the Simandou story.
More than a vessel, Wontanara represents the progress of a project that is steadily moving from construction towards operations. It is a visible symbol of what can be achieved when people, organisations and countries come together around a shared ambition.
The naming ceremony brought together representatives from SimFer, Chinalco, SPSM/COSCO, Canada Steamship Lines (CSL), Chengxi Shipbuilding and other project partners. Their presence reflected the collaboration that has been at the heart of Simandou from the beginning.
The vessel’s name carries a special meaning.
Meaning “we are together” in Susu, Wontanara has become a familiar expression across SimFer. It reflects the spirit of partnership, collaboration and collective responsibility that has helped bring the Simandou Project to life. It is a word that captures not only how the project is being built today, but also the future it aims to create for Guinea.
Built in China for future operations in Guinea, Wontanara is the first of five specialised transshipment vessels that will support SimFer’s maritime logistics system at the Port of Morebaya.
Once operational, the TSV will transport iron ore from the port to ocean-going vessels anchored offshore, helping connect one of the world’s largest high-grade iron ore deposits to global markets. Designed specifically for these operations, it forms an important link in the integrated logistics chain that will support Simandou’s future exports.
But the story of Wontanara is not only about infrastructure.
It is also about people.
Beyond the infrastructure taking shape across the project, SimFer is helping prepare a new generation of Guinean maritime professionals. Through specialised training currently underway in China, young Guineans are developing the skills, knowledge and experience needed to support SimFer’s marine operations. In the years ahead, some will join Wontanara and other SimFer TSVs, contributing directly to the project while helping strengthen Guinea’s maritime sector.
That focus on people was also reflected in one of the most meaningful moments of the ceremony: the naming of the Wontanara by its godmother.
In keeping with a long-standing maritime tradition observed around the world, every vessel is entrusted to a godmother who symbolically offers protection, good fortune and prosperity throughout its life.
For Wontanara, that honour was entrusted to Néné Hawa Baldé, a valued member of SimFer’s port team at Morebaya.
Respected for her professionalism, kindness and unwavering support for others, Néné Hawa embodies the qualities traditionally associated with a vessel’s godmother. Her commitment to responsibility, care and solidarity reflects the values that underpin both Wontanara and the Simandou Project itself.
These qualities may not appear in engineering plans or construction schedules, yet they remain essential to the trust, teamwork and spirit of collaboration that make achievements like this possible.
In many ways, the stories of Néné Hawa and the young maritime trainees help explain the true meaning of Wontanara.
As Wontanara prepares to sail to Guinea and begin the next stage of its journey, it stands as a powerful symbol of what the Simandou Project represents: people united by a shared ambition, moving forward together and building a stronger future for Guinea.