The first shipment of new ISO-1CX containers (102 units) was delivered on board of diesel-electric ship Monchegorsk, which came back from its first trip to China on Oct 16.
The containers are commissioned by the Company in line with its strategy to optimize logistic operations. Their design was developed specifically for transport ice-breakers operated by the Company and taking into consideration the types of cargo that the Company is transporting. Their height (1280 cm) is two times lower than the height of standard containers, while the gross capacity is increased to 30.5 t.
ISO-1CX containers will be used for shipping metals produced by the Company to the commodity markets, as well as for delivering process materials and supplies to the Norilsk Industrial Region.
Ensuring the maximum vessel loading due to larger container capacity and full utilization of the vessel’s cargo spaces, the containers will allow overall reduction of the Company’s transport expenses.
According to Norilsk Nickel investment plans for 2011, the quantity of these new-type containers will reach 1500.
MMC Norilsk Nickel is a diversified mining and metal producing company, a leading global producer of nickel, palladium, platinum, cobalt, copper and rhodium. The company specializes also in mining of gold, silver, iridium, osmium, selenium, ruthenium and tellurium.
The Company’s facilities are located across the world, operating in Russia (Norilsk Industrial Area and Kola Peninsula), Finland, USA, Australia, Botswana and South Africa.