Throughput of the port of Caucasus down 1.3% in H1 07, y-o-y
In January-June 2007, throughput of the port of Caucasus totaled 2.991 million tonnes, PortNews IAA learnt from Taman branch of Rosmorport FSUE. In the first half of the year, transshipment of export cargo made 2.001 million tonnes (2.1-fold increase against January-June 2006). Import grew by 23.15% to 508.81 thou tonnes. In the reportedperiod the port handled 63.38 thou tonnes of fertilizers and 588.65 thou tonnes of general cargo. Transshipment of oil products totaled 1.858 million tonnes. Off-harbor transshipment decreased 3.5 times to 480.88 thou tonnes. The port handled 1,115 vessels (+10.18%, year-on-year).
The port of Caucasus is situated at the border of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov at Kerch Strait from the side of Russia. The port of Caucasus is ice-free, so it has the ability to handle both river vessels (draft of up to 5 meters) and sea vessels (off-harbor handling of vessels with a draft of up to 11 meters). Piloting is obligatory for vessels calling in the port of Caucasus. The territory of the port is crossed by a 2600-meter long railway line. The port handles loose cargo, general cargo and timber at the berths and oil products off the harbor.