Rosterminalugol’s seven-month coal throughput hits the 13-million tonne mark

Rosterminalugol JSC, the largest specialized coal terminal in the European part of Russia (member of the coal port holding Port Management Company), in January – July, 2018, handled 13 million tonnes of export coal, the stevedoring company said on Tuesday.

The 13-millionth tonne was part of the coal shipment loaded onto the post-Panamax Horizon II, which is the 181st vessel received at the terminal since the beginning of the year. The Horizon II is now bound for Europe.

Since June 2018, Rosterminalugol terminal has been undergoing a retrofit and upgrade program initiated by Managing Port Company, which includes the replacement of one of a pair of tandem car dumpers. Investment in the upgrade project is valued at RUB 500 million. The new equipment commissioning is slated for the end of this year.

AO Rosterminalugol (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 OOO Port Management Company.

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, OOO Port Management Company 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%.

OOO Port Management Company 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 (AO Rosterminalugol, Ust-Luga, Leningrad Region) and in the Far East (AO Vostochny Port, 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.