The vessel was either built with or later equipped with (early in its career) a single point loading system. I haven't seen many details of this, but it appears to have some sort of hopper on deck that feeds the four cargo holds via shuttle booms. It also had a self unloading system, that McKeil revised once they purchased the vessel.
I don't think the vessel ever carried powered cement. Instead it was intended to haul cement clinker and perhaps crushed limestone. Here is a writeup from when the vessel was for sale in 2013: https://www.industrialmarinepower.com/f ... 998-japan/
Northern Venture
Re: Northern Venture
She formerly was the Asia cement No. 7 : https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/350 ... id=3633540
Later, it was named the Da Shen: https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/298 ... est&page=1
Later, it was named the Da Shen: https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/298 ... est&page=1
Northern Venture
Saw some drone footage from Ashtabula There were a shot of the Northern Venture Strange looking deck Was she a cement carrier before Didn’t see any hatches Think there was a belt on deck How does she load