New deepwater quay project underway at Russia’s NUTEP terminal

Russia's NUTEP terminal in the port of Novorossiysk has started construction on its new 341m deepest container quay expansion project, following two years of planning and approvals.

Russia’s NUTEP terminal in the port of Novorossiysk has started construction on its new 341m deepest container quay expansion project, following two years of planning and approvals.

The new project is expected to facilitate handling of up to 8,000 to 10,000TEU container ships to make regular year-round ice-free calls into one of its port for the first time.

The project will involve construction of a deepwater berth which will be 15.6m-deep at the 26.5ha NUTEP, which is said to be the largest container terminal in the port.

“It will reduce both shipping and terminal costs for clients and increase delivery speed by four-12 days for cargo headed for Russia.”

Combined with the already existing two berths of 12.3m each, the project is expected to increase load line (LOA) at the terminal to 320m from 270m.

NUTEP CCO Konstantin Kalugin said: “The new deepwater quay will alter the status quo on the Black Sea and change existing supply chain networks in the region.

“It will reduce both shipping and terminal costs for clients and increase delivery speed by four-12 days for cargo headed for Russia.”

The quay expansion project is expected to be completed by end of 2018.

Completion of the new project will allow the terminal to handle 700,000TEU per annum, which is double the current capacity.

Currently, NUTEP handles most deep sea cargo via transshipment at Istanbul, Turkey or Piraeus, Greece.

NUTEP, which is a subsidiary of DeloPorts and a sister company to multimodal transport specialist Ruscon, has a terminal capacity of 350,000TEU.