• 2019 March 27

    Sergey Gaidayev: “There will be no ship delays caused by construction of the Bagayevsky hydrosystem”

    Construction of the Bagayevsky low-head hydrosystem is underway on the Lower Don river. Prior to opening of the transit navigation, Sergey Gaidayev, head of Azov-Don Basin Administration, tells IAA PortNews about the previous year results, construction process and its impact on passage of vessels.

    — Mr. Gaidayev, could please first tell about the results of the 2018 navigation season. What cargo made the bulk of last year

    — Total cargo turnover within the territory under Azov-Don Basin Administration totaled 10.533 million tonnes, up 7.5% year-on-year (vs 9.796 million tonnes). 

    In the reporting period, transit grew by 7.9%, year-on-year, to 8.702 million tonnes. Inland turnover grew by 5.7% to 1.831 million tonnes.

    In 2018, transportation of heavy fuel oil totaled 2.647 million tonnes (25.1% of the total turnover), wheat – 2.124 million tonnes (20.2%)m diesel fuel – 1.032 (9.8%).

    Total turnover of vessels in 2018 amounted to 6,184 units (+8.6%, year-on-year).

    — Last year saw the beginning of construction works on the Arpachin island. How is the construction of the Bagayevsky hydrosystem arranged? Does it influence the fleet operation? 

    — Implementation of the largest infrastructure project on inland water ways of Russia is divided into two phases. The first one implies preparatory works with the second one foreseeing the construction of facilities. 

    The first phase is underway. The works have been arranged so as to exclude interference with the passage of ships. In particular, dredging and land reclamation works are to be performed during the inter-navigation period. 

    — What is to be done this year? 

    — Dredging works are currently being implemented at the construction site by dredgers of different capacity.

    A large number of heavy equipment units have been deployed to prepare reclamation area – a foundation for future building and facilities. A berth is under construction to be later used for unloading of equipment and materials needed for implementation of the project’s second phase. 

    The first phase is to be completed in 2019 with the construction of basic structures to be started this year. The competition procedure has been launched to select a general contractor for implementation of construction and assembly works of the second phase.

    — What is the scope of dredging performed in 2018 and planned for 2019?

    — In 2018, the works were performed by three dredgers with aggregate production capacity of 1,800 cbm per hour. All in all, they dredged 1,386,519 cbm of material. The dredging plan for the navigation period of 2019 is 1,366,400 cbm.

    — With the transit navigation of 2019 about to begin, shipping companies wonder when the navigation season begins on the Lower Don river and how the passage of vessels will be arranged.

    — According to the decree of Federal Marine and River Transport Agency  (Rosmorrechflot) and the schedule of hydraulic engineering structures’ operation in the navigation season of 2019, transit navigation within the boundaries of Azov-Black Sea Basin Administration will begin on 1 April 2019. 

    It is a traditional time of Lower Don navigation beginning.  The Bagayevsky hydrosystem construction will have no impact on the passage of ships through in the Azov-Black Sea Basin. There will be no delays though the ships will use the new passage. 

    Interviewed by Elena Tkacheva
    Photos contributed by Azov-Don Basin Administration