Port Vysotsky set to increase coal throughput by 1.5 times by year end
Port Vysotsky LLC plans to increase coal shipments from its terminal by 1.5 times by 2013 to nearly 5 million tonnes year-on-year, the company’s General Director Vadim Pavlov told PortNews.
The company expects the coal throughput growth could be achieved through handling Panamax dry bulk carriers, which started calls at Vysotsky coal terminal. This has significantly increased the interest of the customers to the port and has expanded the geography of coal deliveries.
The port commenced handling Pamamax ships in August 2012 upon completion of dredging and expansion projects. Currently, Port Vysotsky is handling 4 to 5 dry bulk carriers a month. Coal is loaded onto ships at the port berths, which can accommodate two Panamax ships at a time. Then the bulk carriers take the rest of the cargo at an offshore terminal on Hogland Island from a shuttle barge of capacity of 20,000 tonnes. The company also intends to build another facility for coal transshipment at anchorage 18E. Ltd.
Leningrad region, Russia based LLC Port Vysotsky specializes in handling Russian coal exported to Western Europe. In 2012, coal throughput at Port Vysotsky terminals rose 2.9% year-over-year to 3,295,727 tonnes. In December 2011, Port Vysotsky completed dredging project deepening the harbor and approach channel to 12.7 meters. The channel has now 200 m in width. Maximum draft of vessels was increased from 9,3 m to 11,9 m. This enables access of 45,000DWT bulkers to the coal terminal.
