Port Novorossiysk is inconvenient for transshipment of new automobiles – RTL
Russia’s largest transport-logistic company, Russian Transport Lines Co. LTD (RTL), specializing in transportation of imported automobiles, does not yet eye Novorossiysk as a port for eventual handling of seagoing Ro-Ro vessels for Russian market, PortNews IAA learnt from RTL Director General Konstantin Skovoroda commenting on the statement made by Ruslan Nikitin, deputy Director General of Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP Group), as regards the Group’s intension to embark on automobile transshipment in 2013 with a prospected volume of up to 250,000 units per year.
“That is quite interesting, but port Novorossiysk is inconvenient for this type of cargo,” Konstantin Skovoroda believes.
According to him, the port is located in the center of the city and automobiles are not its priority cargo therefore the existing automobile approaches to the port will apparently be insufficient for transportation of new cars. The traffic is especially difficult here in summer when the port accepts lots of motor transport with grain.
NCSP sea terminals are able to handle 30,000-90,000 automobiles, though further expansion of this flow is hardly probable. The Agency’s interviewee considers the prospected volume announced by NCSP to be quite overestimated. “Port St. Petersburg with Ust-Luga transship 440,000 automobiles per year. Against this background, transshipment of 250,000 automobiles in port Novorossiysk is hardly probable,” he thinks. There is no such consumption of automobiles in this direction.
At the same time, RTL head thinks that southern ports of Russia may become interesting for car assembly plants located in Southern Europe, Turkey and Iran.
Meanwhile, transport companies now expect implementation of a project on construction of a new dry cargo district in the port of Taman, which may prove to be more convenient for handling of Rо-Rо cargo. “Igor Rusu, the concept author of Yug-2 terminal in Ust-Luga, is now in charge of the project on the Taman port construction. I think Taman will be convenient for Rо-Rо cargo,” Skovoroda added.
Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NMTP Group) is Russia’s largest port operator in terms of cargo turnover. The Group comprises the following stevedoring companies: Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port OJSC, Primorsk Commercial Port, Novorossiysk Grain Terminal OJSC, Novorossiysk Ship Repair Yard OJSC, NCSP Fleet OJSC, Novolesexport OJSC, Baltic Stevedore Company LLC and IPP OJSC. In 2012, the group’s throughput gained 1.2% to 158.9 mln tons. 50.1% of NMTP Group belong to Novoport Holding Ltd, beneficiaries of which are Transneft OJSC and Summa Group.
Russian Transport Lines Co. LTD (RTL, Moscow) was set up in 2004 as a full service logistics company. It specializes in search for optimal logistics solutions as regards import of transport, specialized equipment, components and auto plant equipment. In 2006, the first Russian terminal for acceptance of vehicles was opened in St. Petersburg by RTL under partnership with Sea Fishing Port. In 2011, RTL opened a sea terminal Novaya Gavan in Ust-Luga port. Private investments in the project implementation totaled RUR 1.5 bln. RTL intends to invest RUR 3 bln more into the project development till 2014. The volume of state investment till 2014 is to make RUR 2.5 bln.
