Russia: Cargo Traffic at Ust-Luga Port Soars 87 Pct

Throughput of the port of Ust-Luga in January-September 2011 jumped by 87.6 percent year-over-year, to 15,740,000 tons, JSC Ust-Luga said Thursday.

The number of imported cars handled at the port in January-September surged by 2.4 times to 86 977 units.

In September, the port of Ust-Luga handled 2,135,000 tons, demonstrating a 2.4 times growth from a year earlier.

Port of Ust-Luga is located on Russia’s border with the EU. Now, Rosmorport is implementing the port’s dredging project. Upon completion, the 17.5-m deep harbor and a short 3.7-km approach channel will make Ust-Luga the major Russian port on the Baltic Sea that will be able to accommodate 160,000DWT tankers.

This year the second approach canal is expected to be completed, enabling circle movement of vessels. Today, the port has six fully operating terminals (nine more to be commissioned soon). Overall, there will be 19 terminals by 2018.In 2010, the port of Ust-Luga handled 11.8 million tons and 65,500 imported vehicles. Ust-Luga annual throughput may increase to 180 million tons by 2018.

(PortNews)