Igor Teleshev: cargo turnover of Saint Petersburg port to stay at the level of 2006
The largest oil terminal in the North-West region had a slight decrease of cargo turnover in 2006. However, in the middle of the previous year experts forecasted more considerable fall in volumes of cargo to be handled at Petersburg Oil Terminal (POT). The main factor, which could cause lower results, was specific river navigation in the port of Saint Petersburg. It was the first summer navigation without Volgotanker vessels.
Igor Teleshev, Director General of Petersburg Oil Terminal CJSC comments on the results of 2006.
-Igor Anatolyevich, what do you think about POT’s results in 2006? Were they predictable?
- In 2005, total volume of oil products handled by POT amounted to 10.8 million tons. In 2006 it totaled 10.6 million tons. It should be noted that despite more than double decrease in volume of cargo coming to the terminal by river (Neva-river and Volga-Baltic waterway – PortNews IAA remark), optimized railway logistics enabled POT preserve the turnover almost at the level of the previous year.
-What were major factors influencing the decrease of cargo turnover in the port of Saint Petersburg in 2006? Were there any other factors except decreased cargo flow at Volga-Baltic waterway? Was the decrease influenced by absence of a precise legal framework in relations between the state and stevedoring companies?
- Certainly, major factor resulting in a 17-percent decrease of oil products turnover in the port of Saint Petersburg was the decrease of cargo flow at Volga-Baltic waterway. Besides, part of oil products handled in the roads of the port of Saint Petersburg was re-oriented to the terminal of DTC-Vysotsk LUKOIL-II.
As for disputes between stevedoring companies and state authorities, I think it has not influenced the volume of oil products handled in the port of Saint Petersburg.
- Is there a tendency for re-direction of oil product cargoes to other ports in the North-West region of Russia? Is it possible within the coming years?
- In the nearest future, new oil products terminal will be put into operation in the port of Primorsk (The terminal is being built by Transnefteproduct OJSC within the framework of the Sever project in the North-West region) and the terminal in Vysotsk is reach its full capacity. Thus, certain re-direction of cargo is possible. However, speaking about the terminal of Transnefteproduct, it should be noted that changes are to touch only light oil products.
Besides, alignment of railway tariffs for cargo transportation to the ports of Russia and the Baltic states may cause partial re-direction of cargo from the ports of Russia to those of the Baltic states. However, this may influence, first of all, the ports of Kola peninsular and smaller terminals of the North-West region.
- What measures does POT take do decrease the risk of cargo turnover fall in 2007? Could you forecast the results of the port of Saint Petersburg in 2007? What is the share of cargo, which may be possibly delivered to the port by river in 2007? Can railway take part of the port’s oil cargo?
- Our priority is to raise permanently the level of the POT’s services. Thus, in 2007 we are going to puttwo new 40-m3 reservoirs into operation at the terminal. It will raise the terminal’s capacity and extend the range of oil products (new reservoirs are intended for storage of different types of heavy fuel oil), which, in its turn, will raise the level of our service providing the customers with more possibilities. Besides, it will ensure uninterrupted operation even in case of emergency situations caused by nonobservance of river vessels call schedule. Improved logistics is to ensure prompt implementation of contract liabilities.
The terminal’s efforts aimed at improvement of the services quality and at arranging the most comfortable conditions for the customers were confirmed by certification according to ISO 9001: 2000, and appreciated by Shеll and BP companies, which carried out audit confirming approval of oil products transshipment via POT. In 2006 POT won a nomination of a Reliable Partner in an international competition Oil Terminal 2006.
As for forecasts for 2007, the volume of cargo to be handled in the port of Saint Petersburg is to stay at the level of 2006. The volume of oil products to be delivered to the terminal by water transport depends mostly on the ability of possible customers to charter necessary tonnage.
I am not sure the port is able to accept millions tons of additional oil products coming by railway, and it is not only because port railway stations are at the end of their potential. The port does not have any additional facilities to handle extra volumes of such cargo.