St Petersburg gearing up
The port of Russia’s second-largest metropolis invested approximately EUR 10 million in its infrastructure last year. The funds were spent on new cranes, vehicles and handling capacities for intermodal operations.
The port of St Petersburg invested substantially in its infrastructure last year, earmarking RUB 810 million (EUR 9.6 million) for its renewal schemes. This meant the gateway invested approximately 24% more in 2019 than in the previous year and the most for five years. The port spent approximately RUB 475 million (EUR 5.6 million) on two new 40 t gantry cranes, which can be equipped with special grabbers, hooks, magnets and spreaders as required.
Over and above this the Baltic Sea gateway also added twelve new fork-lift trucks, with load capacities of 4.5 to 33 t, to its existing fleet of vehicles. On top of this other new handling equipment was also added, including some reachstackers for faster as well as more efficient goods-handling processes.
Because railfreight operations are becoming ever more important in supplying ports (see also page 8), the gateway also renewed its intermodal infrastructure last year. The re-organisation of these facilities will enable the hub to increase its capacities to handle iron and metals. A new 2,500 teu area for container trains also improves St Petersburg’s offerings.
Comprehensive system renewal
Basic services such as power and water supplies are also important in fortifying the port’s operational capacities, however. Thus the port authority also carried out maintenance work on its power and water supply networks, and intensified its lighting systems to make night-time operations safer. The gateway’s efforts to protect the environment saw it invest in a system to suppress dust from developing in ships’ holds.