OREANDA-NEWS. November 28, 2007. According to announcement made by the management of Odessa port (Ukraine) at the Black Sea Container Summit (Odessa, November), the port is to cease handling of loose bulk cargo. “By the end of 2009, the port will completely cease handling of loose bulk cargo excluding grain and raw sugar,” Yuri Vaskov, deputy head of the port, told at the forum.

As of today, transshipment of loose bulk cargo accounts for one third of dry cargo handled in the port with the up trend (+16% in Jan-Oct 07, y-o-y). The decision is made in view of higher growth rates in the sector of container transshipment (+23.9% in the same period).

The transition to containers is to be based on conversion of private stevedoring businesses. For example, in October 07, stevedoring company Metlalsukraine started handling of containers at the port’s berth No 7, earlier used for transshipment of loose bulk cargo.

According to Mr. Vaskov, from January 1, it is planned to start handling of container carriers at the berth No 29; from April 1 – at the berth No 29/1.