Bronka Port rolls out new bulk handling capabilities of KOTTA container for bulk cargo owners
MSCC Bronka (Multipurpose Sea Cargo Complex Bronka, Big Port St. Petersburg) on April 19, 2019, held a demonstration of innovative technology of handling loose / bulk cargo using KOTTA spreader and KOTTA containers with a bottom discharge function. The technology was invented by St. Petersburg based special container design company KOTTA Container, the Bronka port press office reported.
The demonstration was organized and hosted at the Bronka terminal for representatives of fertilizer exporters, included PhosAgro, UralKaliy, EuroChem and pig iron exporter NLMK, who are interested in the new bulk handling technology.
The demonstration included the KOTTA container transfer from a storage to the terminal berth, the hoisting of container by a mobile harbour crane, the opening and closing of the container floor panels.
The innovative bulk container system developed by KOTTA includes two components: a container design featuring a removable lid for loading bulk commodities, and a bottom discharge system for unloading by opening the floor panels. The design enables bulk cargo to be loaded, moved and discharged in containers, without the need for a specialist container rotator to empty the container.
Specialized containers for bulk / suction cargo, such as mineral fertilizers, potassium, grain have been certified by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) and can be applied across the RZD network. In May, RZD will conduct a test rail transportation of a potassium shipment in KOTTA containers.
Certification of specialized KOTTA container for pig iron is scheduled for the end of Q2 2019.
KOTTA Container develops, certifies and patents specialized containers and spreaders. Single items are manufactured in conjunction with SevZapKanat, Promex, Baltic Container, OZTM, VM Hydro. The container designer has been in talks with a number of machine-building enterprises to launch the mass production of KOTTA containers.
Multipurpose Sea Cargo Complex "Bronka" (MSCC Bronka) is being built on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, where the Dam and the Ring Road border the territory of Lomonosov. The Bronka complex will comprise three dedicated facilities: a container terminal encompassing 107 hectares, the Ro-Ro terminal of 57 ha and a logistics center of 42 ha. Container terminal will have a 1,220 m-long quay wall (including 5 berths). The length of Ro-Ro terminal's dock line will be 710 meters (3 berths).
After completion of Bronka Phase 1 its capacity will reach 1.45 million TEUs and 260,000 units of Ro-Ro cargoes. In future the MSCC Bronka expansion will help increase the facility's container throughput to 1.9 million TEUs. MSCC Bronka is accessible for Post-Panamax containerships and the ferries of Finnstar class. Bronka project will help generate 2,300 jobs at its marine terminals alone. The first liner vessel called to Bronka terminal on September 8, 2015.
