Imants Sarmulis: Ust-Luga expansion may affect cargo flows of Port of Ventspils

The development of terminals in the port of Ust-Luga will impact freight traffic passing via Free Port of Ventspils, the port’s CEO Imants Sarmulis said speaking at the Baltic Forum, PortNews correspondent reports.


However, the Port Authority does not expect significant redistribution of traffic volume and is confident that the transits of Kuzbass coal through Ventspils will not change anyhow. In addition, the port plans to attract more Ro-Ro cargos and containers.


The port has planned several investment projects, Mr. Sarmulis said, the development of North Port, a deep-water terminal for tankers, terminals for timber cargo. Last year the port reconstructed its drawbridge.


Latvia’s Free port of Ventspils is a deepwater ice-free port. The country’s premier port ranks among leading ports on the Baltic Sea and top 20 European ports. The port can accommodate Aframax size tankers of 130.000 DWT and Panamax vessels of 75.000 DWT. The port encompasses 2623,9 hectares with terminals for handling oil products, crude oil, liquid chemicals, mineral fertilizer, metals, forest products, coal, grain, juice concentrates, containers and Ro-Ro cargoes.


In 2010, the port’s throughput dropped year-over-year 6.8% to 24,815,000 tons. In the next three years, Port of Ventspils plans to boost cargo volume by 20% to 30 million tons.
(Source:http://en.portnews.ru)