Heads of Murmansk region and Murmansk port discuss pros and cons of throughput increase (photo)
By 2020, consolidated throughput of the three stevedoring companies of Murmansk seaport (OJSC Murmansk Commercial Seaport, CJSC Agrosfera and CJSC Murmansk Bulk Terminal) will reach 25 mln t of cargo per year, Aleksandr Masko, Director General of Murmansk Commercial Seaport said at the meeting with Marina Kovtun, acting Governor of the Murmansk Region.
According to the regional Government’s PR department, Aleksandr Masko told about the company results in 2013 and in 2014. Last year, the port handled a record high volume of cargo – over 17 mln t. Total investments into activities aimed at boosting the throughput will exceed RUB 3 bln over the three year period.
Marina Kovtun emphasized that throughput increase means certain challenges related to environment issues.
Introduction of environmental technologies is an important component of port modernization, Aleksandr Masko said. The port is located close to residential area, therefore, a package of activities is aimed at controlling and preventing environment pollution.
Dust suppression system based on application of mist making cannons is being created, aspiration system is being revived at the apatite area, dust suppression equipment of the vessel-loading machine has underwent modernization, construction of storm-water drainage has been completed in the third cargo district.
Installation of dust/wind screens is considered to be one of the promising activities aimed at dust reduction. The issue of satellite monitoring is under discussion.
“We pay special attention to environment. Next year we will start building new water treatment facilities. We are also going to install a stationary water sprinkling system with cannons surrounding the cargo district along its perimeter. They will create a water curtain to prevent coal dust from outspreading beyond the storage area. Similar mobile system is in operation today,” Director General of Murmansk Commercial Seaport says.
The Governor also underlined that Murmansk seaport can become one of the largest key points along the Northern Sea Route which is likely to become a transcontinental commercial rout.
Murmansk Commercial Seaport OJSC was established in 1994 on base of the public enterprise and nowadays it is one of Russia’s busiest ports. The port has 17 berths with total length of some 3,000 meters. The length and depth enables the port to handle vessels of up to 15.5 meters in draught and over 265 meters in length. In 2013, the company handled 17.13 mln t of cargo.
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