Deepwater Bronka

Outer port Bronka is nearing one of its most significant construction phases – the start of dredging works which are to be financed by the federal budget.

In-depth approach

Dredging operations within the water area of the Marine Multipurpose Complex Bronka (MMPK Bronka) being built at Big Port St. Petersburg are to commence before July 1, 2013, Aleksey Shukletsov, Executive Director of the project investor Fenix LLC, said at the conference “Development prospects of Big Port St. Petersburg”.

The customer of the dredging works is FSUE Rosmorport, general contractor – Baltstroy CJSC which won the tender having proposed the contract execution for RUB 10.830 bln within 43 months. Upon the project implementation, the approach canal is to get the length of 6,422 meters and the width of 150 meters. The maneuvering area is to be 380 meters wide with a turning basin of 420 meters in diameter. According to the project, the depth is to make 11.2 meters.

The start of the dredging activities at the approach canal of the new port is literally one of the most significant phases of Bronka construction. All previous works were financed by private investments while the dredging costs are to be covered by the budget resources.

Pre-dredging operations are in the progress today: old water and gas pipelines are being dismantled. According to Aleksey Shukletsov, implementation of the dredging works will speed up the port construction.

Personnel

Speaking about the personnel aspect of the port, Aleksey Shukletsov said that the competitive advantage of the Marine Multipurpose Complex Bronka is its location 5 km from Lomonosov. Lomonosov population is 50,000 citizens including 10,000 people of employable population. It is expected that 2,000 citizens of this suburb will be attracted to work at the terminal. Today Lomonosov citizens commute to work in St. Petersburg spending much time for travel.

The terminal will require such specialist as stevedores, dockside workers, operators of loading/unloading works, tallymen, warehousers, administrative personnel etc. It should be noted that teaching and retraining of specialists is traditionally arranged by port administrations.

Like ducks to water

When implementing such a large-scale project implying dredging operations it is especially important to ensure environmental safety. 

To partially compensate for the negative impact of Bronka construction, 10,000 yearlings of Ladoga speckled trout were released into the Ladoga lake at Motornoye village (Priozersk district of the Leningrad region) on May 31. Ladoga speckled trout is one of the most valuable species in the North West region. The release was financed by Fenix LLC.

The work on artificial reproduction of Ladoga speckled trout was implemented by the Federal Genetic Selective Fishery Center located in Ropsha (FGSFC, Leningrad region). 

The 5-year program provides for artificial reproduction of aquatic biological resources and their release to the water bodies of the Leningrad region. 

Opinions

Russian and foreign experts take a favourable view of the outer port construction. For example, Leonid Ryazanov, Director of St. Petersburg State Institution External Transport Agency, has expressed his confidence that the launch of the outer port Bronka would have a positive impact on St. Petersburg infrastructure and seaport operation.  According to him, with the increased cargo flow in St. Petersburg in line with the maritime infrastructure development strategy, cargo flows should be shifted from the central part of St. Petersburg to the suburbs. Since the city is interested in increased cargo flows generating new jobs and tax income, Bronka development will help unload the city center, which is one of the priorities, Rezanov explained.

Promising perspectives of the port were also marked by Kurt Bodewig, Chairman of the Baltic Sea Forum, former German Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. According to him, Bronka construction is of great importance for the modernization of port of St. Petersburg and renovation of the city’s port sector. As an example of such developments in the foreign countries he mentioned the experience of port Stockholm (Sweden) and told about the process in the port of Hamburg (Germany) where old port and storage facilities are undergoing re-equipment and the port sector is being modernized. Kurt Bodewig marked an interesting opportunity of MMPK Bronka to turn into an attractive modern terminal. He added that due to its importance and attractiveness, the port is provided with state support which is essential for further activities of the port and its status as an investment ground.

The Marine Multipurpose Complex Bronka (MMPK Bronka) is being built on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, in the place where the dam and the ring road border the territory of Lomonosov. The Bronka Complex will comprise three specialized facilities: a container terminal encompassing 107 hectares, Ro-Ro terminal of 57 ha and logistics center of 42 ha.  Container terminal will feature the 1.176 m-long waterfront (including 5 berths). The waterfront of rolling cargo terminal will be 630 meters (3 berths). The Bronka Phase 1 capacity is projected to be 1.45 million TEUs and 260,000 units of Ro-Ro cargoes. The facility’s container throughput is planned to be increased to 1.9 million TEUs. The Bronka Multipurpose Complex will be able to handle Panamax containerships and the ferries of Finnstar class. 

Private investors are expected to inject nearly RUB 43.7 billion in the project with the Russian Government investment at some RUB 15.2 billion.

Implementation of the Bronka project will bring 2,300 work places at sea terminals alone.  Upon completion of the outer harbor facilities annual direct tax payments to the budget of St. Petersburg will be at RUB 1.7 billion (plus indirect tax due to a multiplier effect – RUB 5.1 bn), the federal budget will get RUB 2.0 billion a year (RUB 5.9bn).

 Margarita Babkova