Construction works in Ust-Luga port should be restricted in summer – scientists
Construction works in Ust-Luga port (Leningrad region) should be restricted in summer. This opinion was expressed by Mikhail Shilin, Professor of the Russian State Hydrometeorological University, at the conference-dialogue “Eco-Port: prosperity strategies” held in St. Petersburg, PortNews IAA reporter informs.
According to the Professor, long-term data collected in the Luga Bay demonstrate that the ecosystem of the Bay is especially vulnerable in summer. He noted that the vulnerability map has been made up only according to oil impact so far.
The Luga Bay has a diverse fish fauna and it is a flyover and stopover area for birds. Two types of seals (grey seal and ringed seal) also call on there.
Ust-Luga port is situated practically at the border of the Russian Federation and the European Union. The deep water area of the port (17.5 m) together with the short seaway canal (3.7 km) make Ust-Luga port the only Russian port on the Baltic Sea capable of admitting dry-cargo vessels with the deadweight of up to 75,000 tonnes and liquid cargo carriers with the deadweight of up to 160,000 tonnes. In 2012, the port’s throughput totaled 46,612,344 mln tons. By 2018 the throughput of the port is expected to reach 180 mln tons of cargo.