Rosterminalugol JSC, the largest dedicated coal port in the European part of Russia, a company of Port Management Company LLC, Russia’s largest coal port holding, says it handled 2 mln t of export coal in January 2018, up 42% as compared with the same period in 2017 (1.4 mln t).
During the month, the terminal handled 27 vessels (vs 23 vessels handled in January 2017) with average shipload making 73,500 t. Maximum daily loading was as high as 94,000 t (vs 78,000 t in January 2017).
In January 2018, the terminal unloaded more than 1.7 mln t of coal, +9% year-on-year (vs 1.56 mln t in January 2017). Having applied measures preventing freezing of coal at departure stations, the company managed to increase unloading at temperatures below -12˚С.
Besides, the terminal utilizes an in-house system to ensure free flow of loose cargo in winter periods. It comprises defreezing units for rail cars and crushing machines for coal. Infrared heaters are used to let cargo flow free when unloading is performed through rail car dumping.
In 2017, the unloading facility of Rosterminalugol was equipped with automated heat curtain and a high-speed gate to prevent warm air loss for an efficient use of defreezing units. In 2017, Rosterminalugol invested more than RUB 38 mln in measures mitigating the risks related to climatic conditions.
Rosterminalugol JSC (port Ust-Luga, Leningrad Region) is the largest dedicated coal terminal in the North-West region of Russia. The terminal built with the application of the innovative technologies is intended to supply Russian coal produced in Kuzbass and other coal fields to the customers in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. The terminal was founded in 1996 under the programme on establishment of a commercial seaport in Ust-Luga. Phase II of the port – automated transshipment facility – was put into operation in 2006 in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2016, Rosterminalugol entered the holding run by Port Management Company LLC.
In 2017, coal throughput of Rosterminalugol grew by 38%, year-on-year, to a record high of 25 million tonnes (over 60% of coal exports through the ports of Russia’s Baltic Basin). In 2016, Port Management Company LLC launched the project the terminal expansion and modernization. In the recent five years the terminal exported 80 million tonnes of coal, which is an absolute record among the ports of Russia’s North-West region. On 24 June 2017, the coal port handled its largest bulk carrier ever – Navios Pollux (Capesize, DWT – 180,000 tonnes, LOA - 282 m, Beam – 45 m).
The coal port three-phased development and expansion project ensures a complete cycle of operations including automatic unloading, treatment and magnetic cleaning, storage and loading onto seagoing ships including Panamax and Capsize bulk cargo carriers, customs and shipping paperwork. Environmental safety at the port is ensured by state-of-the-art dust suppression and storm water control systems. In 2016, Rosterminalugol celebrated its 20th anniversary.
In terms of application of digital and computer technologies, Rosterminalugol is the leader in the port industry. Automation of processes at the port exceeds 98%.
Port Management Company LLC founded in 2008. is Russia's major coal port holding that exercises the powers of a single executive body of largest dedicated coal ports based in the Baltic Sea region (Rosterminalugol JSC, Ust-Luga, Leningrad Region) and in the Far East (Vostochny Port JSC, Wrangel Bay, Primorsky Territory). In 2017, total coal throughput of the holding's stevedoring companies reached 48.2 million tonnes, which is more than one third of all seaborne coal exports from Russia. The commodity is exported to more than 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. By 2019, according to PMC' estimates the total annual coal throughput across marine coal terminals will increase to 56.5 million tonnes.
Dedicated coal ports of the holding, Vostochny Port and Rosterminalugol, are fitted with the cutting-edge equipment for closed transshipment of coal.
A specific feature of the holding’s activities is the search and introduction of the best technologies available to increase coal transshipment and improve environmental safety. The ports boast the world’s best equipment, unique import substitution technologies and self-engineered products.