Alexander Gabedava: coal is to be taken outside Tuapse by the end of the year
Cargo turnover of Tuapse Commercial Seaport slightly decreased through eight months of 2006. Transshipment of oil products fell by 8%. The port almost ceased transshipment of ore and metal scrap, while transshipment of grain almost doubled. Gabedava Alexander Sergeyevich, consultant of TCS’ Director General, has told PortNews IAA about results and new projects of Tuapse Commercial Seaport.
- Alexander Sergeyevich, what it the company’s cargo turnover this year? How do you explain decrease of cargo turnover in January-August 2006?
- TCS handled about 14 million tons of cargo through eight months. In particular, dry cargo amounted to 4.5 million tons, oil cargo – 9.5 million tons. The company’s cargo turnover decreased through this period by about 2.5%. The decrease may be attributed to two major factors. First of all it is unfavorable weather conditions in winter. Besides, it is also non-fulfillment of cargo owners’ contract obligations on delivery of announced cargo volumes.
- TCS’s net profit decreased in the first half of the year by 13.5%. How can you explain that?
- Yes, half-year net profit really decreased. This result may be attributed to different factors: first of all it is the decrease of dollar rate by 7.8% and inflation entailing growth of expenses by 9.5%.
- What works have been done under the project on construction of a new grain complex. When is the construction to finalize?
- Preparatory works for construction of a new grain-transshipping terminal complex have been started this year. The first stage is planned to be finalized in 2007. Introduction of the first phase will enable us to ship up to 900 thou tons of grain per year. The complex’s design capacity is to be reached in 2008.
All the design estimate documents have been finalized by today. Grain transshipment complex is to be located at the territory of TCS OJSC. It is to include grain depots with a storage capacity of 100 thou tons, station for wagon unloading, purification tower, as well as a deep-water berth for vessels with a tonnage of up to 55 thou tons and length of up to 230 meters. All the transshipment processes are to be completely mechanized and computerized at the terminal. Putting of the terminal into operation will enable it to increase the port’s capacity. We think that cargo turnover of grain complex will then reach 2.0 million tons per year. The project is estimated to be costing of 1 billion 700 million rubles.
- When will the project on transfer of coal grounds be finalized? What is to be located at the territory of today’s coal terminal? Are the coal grounds to be enlarged?
- Tuapse Commercial Seaport has already spent over 44 million rubles for the project on transfer of coal grounds to the outskirts of the berthage. This project will enable to considerably decrease coal dust influence on residential quarters adjacent to the port. Within the framework of this project engineering facilities have been already taken away from the territory dedicated for coal ground. The work on reconstruction of railway and crane tracks is being done as well as reinforcement of the warehouse ground surface.
The project on transfer of coal grounds have been developed by the project institute NovomirNIIproekt LLC. The process of rearrangement of storage areas is to result in increase of their capacity in terms of packaged cargo (metal goods etc.). The capacity of coal grounds is to be left unchanged. All the works on transfer of coal grounds are to be finalized by the end of the current year.
- Is there a department in the company to manage port class vessels?
- TCS includes the Fleet Management Service, which operates port class vessels. The majority of the fleet belongs to our company.
- What lease period is the most reasonable in your opinion?
- Lease period should be precisely specified by legislative documents of RF, while the lease should be а long-term agreement. Short lease period is a restricting factor for the development of a port complex limiting investments into technical facilities of the port.