Throughput of Sea Port of St. Petersburg down 11% to 2.4 mln t in Q1 08

In the first quarter of 2008, Sea Port of St. Petersburg handled 2.4 million tonnes (-11%, year-on-year), PortNews IAA learnt from the company. Transshipment of general cargo amounted to 1.5 million tonnes including 1 million tonnes of metal cargo 0.92 million tonnes of dry bulk and loose cargo (including 0.5 million tonnes of coal). In the reported period First Stevedoring Company handled 1.13 million tonnes, Second Stevedoring Company– 0.40 million tonnes (-19%), Forth Stevedoring Company 0.92 million tonnes (-7%). Third Stevedoring Company did not handle cargo in January-March 08 due to a change in specialization and construction of an automobile terminal. Second Stevedoring Company decreased its throughput due to a fall in handling of rolled ferrous metal and containers. Forth Stevedoring Company attributes the decrease to ship owners’ failure to provide fleet for loading.