In January-February 2008, throughput of Ventspils port fell by 4% to 5.21 million tonnes, the Baltic Course reports. Transshipment of loose dry cargo amounted to 1.14 million tonnes (-17.7%) including 41,600 tonnes of mineral fertilizers (- 91.0%) and 921,600 tones of coal (+ 32.1%).
In the 2-month period, the port handled 3.83 million tonnes of liquid bulk cargo (+4.2%) including 243,000 tonnes of crude (+8.7%) and 3.44 million tonnes of oil products (+7.9%).
Transshipment of general cargo fell by 35.2% to 230,000 tonnes including 132,700 tonnes of ro-ro cargo (- 41.6%). Container throughput fell by 97.4% to 60 TEU. Transshipment of timber totaled 74,800 tonnes (+10%), metal and scrap metal – 1,600 tonnes (+100%).
The port of Ventspils handles crude, oil products, liquid chemicals, fertilizers, metal, timber, fish, coal, containers and ro-ro cargo. Maximal depth of the port’s water area has been increased to 17.5 meters to accept 130,000-dwt AFRAMAX tankers. The terminal of liquid bulk cargo has 9 berths with depth of 11.5-17.5 meters capable of handing 130,000-dwt AFRAMAX vessels.