A SHIP is due to leave the River Tees today after an historic voyage which saw it deliver the first shipment of a vital mineral used in steel production for Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI) UK plant.

Unloading of 139,000 tonnes of iron ore from the China Act is due to be completed this morning, with the vessel set to depart the Redcar bulk terminal at lunchtime.

The arrival of its cargo, from Brazil, marked an historic moment as it will form the basis for the first steel slabs to be produced at the former Teesside Cast Products plant, near Redcar, since its mothballing by previous owner Tata Steel in February last year.

The China Act's arrival in the early hours of Sunday morning, following a 19 day trip, is a good indication that the plant is on track for its planned start-up date of December 8.

Neil Waterfield, bulk raw material planner for SSI, said: "I get goose bumps just thinking about it.

"There is a lot of work going on, but you can't do anything without the raw materials and when they start arriving it is a significant day.

"I was outside the front gate when the last post was blown 18 months ago and it was emotional for the wrong reasons, when the blast furnace is lit again it will be emotional again, but for the right reasons."

Keith Russell, manager of Billingham based GP Shipping, which has responsibility for overseeing SSI's maritime deliveries, said: "You feel extra responsibility because you know how important it is for this area, you want to make sure it gets in on time.

"For the ship it is another cargo going around the world, for the people here it is another milestone."

Redcar bulk terminal general manager Baird Cross added: "It seems more real with the iron ore on land. To relight the furnace you need iron ore and this is the first step to that."

When the China Act sets sail around noon it is hoped the Cape Ioanna, bringing Australian coal to the plant, will be able to dock at the terminal on the 4pm tide.

SSI completed the £291m purchase of the facility in March, not only saving 700 jobs, but also creating up to 1,000 new ones.