In 1955 Utah Construction ordered its first ship built to transport ore from the Marcona Mine in Peru to Japanese markets. Among other things, the Marcona adventure meant embarking on the ocean shipping business, and in 1955 the company placed its first order with a Japanese shipyard. "The first ship we ordered was a 32,000-ton vessel," Littlefield wrote. "Prior to that time most iron ore was carried in 10,500-ton vessels. Everyone thought we were mad to commission such a large ship, but our reasoning was that you could operate a ship that size with the same size crew it took to operate a smaller one." Reasoning further that transporting an empty cargo hold was as costly as transporting a full one, executives took another risk and ordered combination ore and oil carriers. The ships brought ore to Japanese markets and then picked up a cargo of crude oil in Indonesia. After unloading the oil at California ports, the ships brought supplies back to Peru. "At one point, the shipping operation was as profitable as the mining operation," Littlefield observed. By 1975 Utah International enjoyed such success mining in Peru that the entire operation was expropriated by the Velasco dictatorship. "Bill Simons, the Secretary of the Treasury, was helpful in getting a settlement with the Peruvians," Littlefield related. "While we had all of our own money out, plus a lot more, it was not a fair settlement for what we had invested in the mine. But it was the best we could do." Bemused, company officials watched as the Peruvians found it difficult to sell the surplus iron ore because the Japanese outlet held a contract with Utah International and refused to purchase from a Peruvian government corporation. Once on the open market, Marcona's value plummeted. So little did the Peruvian officials understand Marcona's potential, Littlefield explained, that they hoped to sell the mines for $80 million. Instead, Littlefield added, "the rights to the Marcona facilities were sold to the Republic of China for $300 million." Still owned by the Chinese, the Marcona mines have expanded and continue to prosper.