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  • 2016 March 3

    Peotr Aseyev, Director General of Rostov Multipurpose Port: “We expect regular development”

    Rostov Multipurpose Port LLC has increased its throughput in 2015 despite abnormally low water level at inland water ways of Russia and difficult market situation. Peotr Aseyev, Director General of RMP, tells IAA PortNews about the Company development and about the construction of a Multimodal Transport and Logistic Hub RMP.

    - Mr. Aseyev, have you achieved the results panned for 2015?

    - Yes, Rostov Multipurpose Port LLC increased its throughput in 2015 by 3%, year-on-year, to 1,412,000 t. 
    The analyses of small ports in the South of Russia shows that amid the current market situation it is necessary to  diversify the types of cargo and the package of services. In 2015 RMP handled coal (50% of total throughput), metal scrap (15%), grain (12%), spar (9%), containers (5%), inert cargo (3%), rolled metal (3%), oversized cargo (2%) and other cargo (1%).

    In 2015 transshipment of coal fell by 4% to 707,000 t, spar – by 19% to 120,000 t. At the same time we increased transshipment of metal scrap by 2% to 216,000 t, grain - 3 times to 175,000 t, oversized cargo – by 34% to 31,000 t, rolled metal - 3 times to 38,000 t.

    Handling of oversized cargo is among the competitive advantages of Rostov Multipurpose Port. To handle this type of cargo the Company acquired a 86-t Liebherr crane. 

    In 2015 the Company signed a long-term contract with RSK LLC for handling oversized cargo.

    To boost transshipment of oversized cargo it is necessary to reinforce the quay wall at the third cargo district.

    - Is there a demand for container transportation today? Which container services are in partnership with RMP? 

    - Rostov Multipurpose Port LLC handles containers of MSC, HAPAG-LLOYD, CSAV NORASIA. Of course, container transportation is still in demand. Yet, there is a decline of container traffic both at the port of Rostov-on-Don and generally in the South of Russia. The increase of dollar rates and complicated political relations with Turkey lead to reduction of container imports.

    - What was the impact of low water level on operation of the port in summer navigation of 2015?

    - Navigation of 2015 at inland water ways of Russia was the most difficult over the last decade. According to preliminary data, the volume of cargo carried by Russian rivers fell by 4%, year-on-year due to low water level, insufficient financing of inland water ways and unsolved problem of bottlenecks.  

    - The project on construction of Multimodal Transport and Logistic Hub RMP is included into the federal targeted programme Development of Russia’s Transport System in 2010-2020. What has been made already in this respect?

    - Under the federal targeted programme Development of Russia’s Transport System in 2010-2020 the project documentation on the federal transport and engineering facilities has obtained a State Expert Approval. 

    Private investors of MTLH RMP have spent over RUB 4 bln. Over 500 new jobs were created. The federal and he regional budget have spent over RUB 380 mln. MTLH RMP is included into the Programme of “100 Governor’s Projects”. The regional Government provides continuous support to investors. 

    It should be taken into consideration that federal targeted programme Development of Russia’s Transport System in 2010-2020 has been significantly amended due to the economic crisis but the MTLH RMP has not been excluded though the terms of its implementation were have been postponed. This means that it is a strategically important project, both on the regional and the federal level and it must be implemented!

    - How important are the railway approaches and construction of a new railway station and a lateral highway for expansion of the port and for the economic development?

    - According to the forecast till 2020, cargo transshipment at the seaport of Rostov-on-Don will make 12-14 mln t per year, by 2025 — 16 mln t per year. The share of cargo carried by Russian Railways is growing and it will reach 60% by 2020 and 75% by 2025. This will be possible only through fulfillment of all obligations on the federal and regional components of the project.

    When the first phase of federal facilities of transport infrastructure is put into operation, private investors will have an opportunity to further increase the capacity of the transshipment complex and throughput due to the ability to transport cargo by railways and by road.

    The port of Rostov is very conveniently located at the mouth of the Don river where three transport routes – railway, water and road – meet. 

    - What are the plans of RMP for 2016? 

    - We expect regular development and we will build up cargo transshipment. In 2016 Rostov Multipurpose  Port is going to handle 1,600,000 t of cargo.

    Elena Tkacheva

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