United States
                       Securities and Exchange Commission
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 6-K

                        Report of Foreign Private Issuer
                        Pursuant To Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
                                     of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                For the month of


                                 January 2003


                        Valley of the Doce River Company
                 (Translation of Registrant's name into English)



                          Avenida Graca Aranha, No. 26
                      20005-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
                     (Address of principal executive office)



     (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
     reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)

                        (Check One) Form 20-F X  Form 40-F
                                             ---           ---


     (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
     information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing information
     to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
     Act of 1934.)

                               (Check One) Yes    No X
                                              ---   ---

       (If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
              registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b). 82- .)







This current report on Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by reference into the
Registration Statement on Form F-4 of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce and Vale
Overseas Limited, File No. 333-84696.





[COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE LOGO]                                  Press Release

                 CVRD and MITSUI Announce Logistics Partnership

Rio de Janeiro, 16 January 2003 -Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) hereby
announces the formation of a partnership with Mitsui Co. (Mitsui), a major
Japanese player in the global logistics market, with a view to developing its
intermodal transport business. Mitsui is to bring both capital and technological
expertise to the partnership, being a firm believer in the growth potential of
the Brazilian logistics market.

This partnership with Mitsui opens new frontiers for coastal shipping services,
currently provided by Docenave, a subsidiary of CVRD. As part of the agreement
with CVRD, Mitsui will bring its know-how and technology in the management of
container transport, an important component in the cost of operations, as well
as the development of a feeder service - the loading of containers for long haul
shipping.

Mitsui will hold a 21% stake of the new venture, the balance of 79% being owned
by CVRD. The aim in 2003 is to achieve a market share of more than 50% of the
coastal shipping market for containers, mainly deriving from the
electro-electronics, petrochemical, food and building material industries.

"This is a clear demonstration of confidence by a large international player in
the Brazilian market and confirms CVRD's leadership in the logistics market,
offering integrated and innovative solutions to its clients", said Roger
Agnelli, CEO of CVRD.

As a form of intermodal freight transport, coastal shipping is part of CVRD's
integrated logistics strategy, which also includes such services as scheduled
trains, distribution centres, bonded warehouses and maritime terminals.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        For further information, please contact:
           Roberto Castello Branco: castello.branco@cvrd.com.br +55-21-3814-4540
                         Andreia Reis: andreia.reis@cvrd.com.br +55-21-3814-4643
                     Barbara Geluda: barbara.geluda@cvrd.com.br +55-21-3814-4557
                     Daniela Tinoco: daniela.tinoco@cvrd.com.br +55-21-3814-4946
                     Rafael Azevedo: rafael.azevedo@cvrd.com.br +55-21-3814-4700

This press release may contain statements that express management's expectations
about future events or results rather than historical facts. These
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking
statements, and CVRD cannot give assurance that such statements will prove
correct. These risks and uncertainties include factors: relating to the
Brazilian economy and securities markets, which exhibit volatility and can be
adversely affected by developments in other countries; relating to the iron ore
business and its dependence on the global steel industry, which is cyclical in
nature; and relating to the highly competitive industries in which CVRD
operates. For additional information on factors that could cause CVRD's actual
results to differ from expectations reflected in forward-looking statements,
please see CVRD's reports filed with the Brazilian Comissao de Valores
Mobiliarios and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.





                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                            COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE
                                                      (Registrant)


Date: January 17, 2003

                                            By: /s/ Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa
                                                ------------------------------
                                                  Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa
                                                  Chief Financial Officer