Ust-Luga port’s Q1 cargo volume grows 13.6% to 2,675,400 tons

Throughput of the port of Ust-Luga in I quarter of 2011 increased by 13.6% compared with the same period of 2010, to 2,675,448.4 tons, said the press-service of JSC "Ust-Luga Company" (customer-developer of the port).


Handling of imported cars at the port soared as much as 5.3 times from last year’s figures reaching 28,485 vehicles. The number of handled rail cars surged 50.8% to 53,545 units.


Port of Ust-Luga is located on Russia’s border with the EU. Its 16-m deep harbor and a short 3.7-km approach canal make Ust-Luga the major Russian port on the Baltic Sea capable of accommodating 75,00dwt bulkers and 120,000dwt tankers.


In 2010, cargo throughput of Ust-Luga rose year-over-year by 13.7% and totaled 11,78m tons of cargo and 65,500 autos. By 2018, annual cargo volume handled at the port is expected to increase up to 180 million tons.


In 2010, the port’s export coal terminal owned by Kuzbasrazrezugol Holding transshipped 7,5m tons coal.


The port continues its expansion program. Gunvor’s division – JSC Rosneftbunker is the customer-developer of a liquid bulk terminal worth some RUB 26bn, now under construction. The terminal’s projected capacity is 30 million tons a year. In 2011, Rosneftbunker plans to export 10-11 million tons of petroleum products via the terminal. On Jan. 31, 2011, the terminal loaded the first oil cargo onto SCF Neva, the 47,000dwt product tanker owned by Sovcomflot.


Besides, in December 2011, Transneft JSC plans to launch the Marine Export Oil Terminal, which will become the terminus of the Phase2 Baltic Pipeline System (BPS-2). This year Ust-Luga Co. projects to commission another facility – the Ust-Luga Container Terminal.
(Source:http://en.portnews.ru)