Vysotsky scaling new heights

Port Vysotsky LLC has commenced implementation of an investment programme valued at $40 mln and aimed at doubling of coal turnover by 2015. The growth of transshipment volumes requires attraction of more personnel to the port. Partnership with Admiral Makarov University will facilitate it.

Vysotsky economical miracle

The European coal market thickens with growing volumes of coal from Columbia and the USA. Russian exporters find it more difficult to compete in price with the American coal as in Columbia it is excavated in close vicinity to ports and warm climate also contributes to cost saving. Optimization of coal supply chain is crucial in this context.

The port of Vysotsk is one of Russian coal terminals to considerably improve its competitiveness over the past year. With the reconstructed berths and deepened water area it commenced handling of Panamax vessels from August 2012. It opened new prospects for the stevedoring company Port Vysotsky LLC – surging cargo turnover and considerable expansion of cargo supply geography. Russian thermal coal is now shipped to the ports of Belgium, Netherlands, England. Moreover, the company managed to take over part of the cargo flow which earlier was handled in foreign ports – Ventspils and Riga (experts say, 1.5-2 mln t per year). 

Today, the company handles 4-5 Panamax vessels per month (about 30 vessels of this type were handled here from August 2012). Major loading is executed at the berths with additional loading from 20,000-tonne shuttle vessel at the outer anchorage near the Gogland island. The company’s short-term plan provides for the construction of a roadstead transshipment complex at the anchorage 18Е.

“Presently, daily freight cost of a Panamax vessel is $7,000-8,000, Handysize – about $20,000 per tonne. The cargo capacity of the latter is 32,000 tonnes while Panamax vessels can carry almost 3 times as much. It is profitable for our customers, indeed,” the stevedore’s Director Vadim Pavlov explained the necessity to handle large vessels.

The port has recently handled 2 Panamax vessels at a time. Some time before, such a vessel had left for the Southern Europe, Italy, which is quite a milestone event. 

According to the company’s forecast, Port Vysotsky LLC is to increase its throughput over 1.5 times, year-on-year to 5 mln t in 2013. By 2015, the company plans to boost it to 7 mln t per year. For that purpose, it has developed an investment programme valued at about $40 mln. It will be financed by both shareholders of the company and borrowed resources (there is a corresponding agreement with Sberbank OJSC). In late August – early September, the port will accept new 4,200-h.p.azimuth tugboats built by Damen shipyard in Vietnam and adapted for operation with Panamax vessels. In October-November of the current year two new hydraulically-driven manipulators Mantsinen 120 will join the two operating machines. Besides, under the investment programme aimed at the company development, there is a plan for scheduled replacement of cranes and launch of new warehouse facilities, as well as for reconstruction of power supply system and purchase of additional Volvo loaders.

There are also long-term development plans to raise cargo turnover to 10-12 mln t per year. The expansion plans will to a great extent depend on the development of long-distance railway approaches, in particular, the construction of Losevo-Kamennogorsk line to by-pass the major Vyborg route. As RF Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov announced earlier, cargo is to be shifted to this line before the end of 2013.

Currently, the capacity of the port and station Vysotsk is 211 wagons per day. Some days see handling of up to 250 wagons. Meanwhile, Port Vysotsky is set to continue improving the wagon unloading technology and optimization of in-port logistics.

Personnel is the crucial factor

Despite the technical upgrade, the personnel is not to be reduced, but to grow instead. “Handling 5 mln t or 7 mln t per year is a great difference. Therefore we are to introduce new jobs. The scope of work and the equipment part will grow,” – Vadim Pavlov explained. According to him, the company permanently carries out programmes on personnel training in such specializations as dock engineers, operators of auto-loaders (at the company’s costs). “The personnel problem is known everywhere but people go to stable and promising companies,” – Vadim Pavlov believes. 

This year, Port Vysotsky has intense relationship with the faculty of international transport management of the Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping. Vysotsk coal terminal will serve as a ground for introduction and practical training of the faculty students. The stevedore’s management expects that some University graduates will finally come to work at Port Vysotsky LLC, the more so as many of them live in Vyborg.

As the University President Ivan Kostylev commented for IAA PortNews, “when it comes to practical training, it is very important for us to familiarize our cadets (students) with the present-day process technologies of port activities and make them understand the logistic chaining. We believe, that together with the employers we can ensure shorter adaptation period when future graduates are employed by any port”.

It should be noted that in December 2013, port Vysotsk will mark an anniversary – the first vessel was handled by the-then Vysotsk station of Vyborg port on December 22, 1983.

Vitaly Chernov