November 7, 2011 [PortNews] - Rosmorport has completed by 99 percent dredging of the North approach channel to deep oil terminals located at the port of Ust-Luga (Liquid Bulk Cargo Complex, Leningrad region), Rosmorport press service said.
Overall, the government contractor picked by Rosmorport is to dredge up 8, 571 million cbm of soil. The owner of export oil terminal piers is Rosneftbunker, which is also finalizing renovation of its facilities.
Execution of the government contract for dredging the approach channel started in May 2011.
According to the Ust-Luga Port Authority, the approach channels to the seaport of Ust-Luga have been deepened to designed marks and are ready for the passage of tankers to export oil terminals. However, dredging of the operational area at the terminals piers has yet not been completed due to defects in sheet piles interlock.
The owner of berths stopped dredging in the area in July in order to avoid soil washout from the body of water control structures. Rosneftbunker says deepening of the water area to desired mark could be resumed only after the defects in sheet pile wall will be removed.
The facility owner Rosneftbunker understands it needs to complete the renovation of piers and dredging project at Ust-Luga as soon as possible, before this winter navigation and ice formation.
The 17.5m-deep harbor, channels and piers will enable access of Suezmax tankers to Rosneftbunker’s export oil terminals.
