Handling of imports / exports at the Port of Ust-Luga in the first quarter of 2012 leaped 2.7 from January-March 2011, to 7,229,000 tons, the port operator JSC Ust-Luga said.
Handling of imported vehicles at Ust-Luga Ro-Ro terminal soared by 77 percent year-over-year to 45,092 units.
In March, the port’s stevedoring companies transshipped 2.72 million tons of cargo, which is 2.7 times higher than in March 2011. The number of handled imported cars increased by twofold to 17,908 units.
Port of Ust-Luga is located on Russia’s border with the EU. Now, Rosmorport is implementing the port’s dredging project to deepen the harbor and a 3.7km approach canal to 17.5 meters. Besides, Rosmorport plans to have the second approach canal completed by the end of this year. The port will become the only Russian port on the Baltic Sea capable of accommodating 75,000dwt bulkers and 120,000dwt tankers. Today, the port has six fully operating terminals (nine more to be commissioned soon). Overall, there will be 19 terminals commissioned by 2018. In 2010, Ust-Luga port handled 11.8 million tons of cargoes and 65,500 imported vehicles. By 2018, the port’s annual throughput is expected to increase to 180 million tons.