OREANDA-NEWS. April 08, 2010.  The first stage of the Sochi Port Cargo District went into service on April 6, 2010. Basic Element is the investor for the construction of the Cargo District, which is being commissioned as per a schedule approved by the Olimpstroy State Corporation.

 The Cargo District started to unload the first ship to deliver construction materials (crushed stone) to Sochi on April 6.

 The first stage will be able to accept 2 million tonnes of cargo per year. It consists of two docks, capable of handling inert materials and general cargo that will be used to build Olympic facilities. The docks are equipped with four state-of-the-art Liebherr mobile harbor cranes, handlers, front-lift and fork-lift trucks.

 "The port is of strategic importance for undisrupted supplies of inert materials and general cargo for Olympic construction," said Yury Tyamushkin, Managing Director of Basic Element's Port Business Directorate, commenting on the launch of operations. "The port will enable routes and the delivery cost of construction materials to be optimized, and ease congestion on the federal and local highways in and around Sochi."

Key facts

Sochi Port Cargo District in the Myzymta Estuary

 The Cargo District is situated between the estuaries of the Myzymta and Psou rivers in Sochi's Adler district on the Black Sea's open coastline.

 Basic Element is the Investor and Coordinator for the Sochi Port Cargo District, which is intended to deliver cargo for the construction of Olympic facilities, in accordance with the Program for the Construction of Olympic Facilities, approved by a Russian governmental decree (#613 of July 27, 2009). Basic Element is also the Investor for the subsequent adaptation of the port into a yachting marina. The Cargo District will be capable of handling 5 million tonnes of cargo per year and docks will be up to 9.2 meters deep.

 The investment aspect of the project being implemented by Basic Element calls for the construction of eight universal docks to accept general and tanker cargo; coastal fortifications; coastal infrastructure; and the installation of technological equipment. The federal aspect of the project involves building breakwaters and deepening the port.

 LLC Imeretinsky Port Sochi, set up in 2007, is responsible for designing, building and operating the Cargo District. The company is a member of Basic Element's Port Business Directorate. The General Contractor for the investment aspect of the project is CJSC Inzhtransstroy, a member of the Transstroy Holding.

 The first stage of the Cargo District went into service in April 2010 with the commissioning of two docks, capacity 2 million tonnes of cargo each. The docks are equipped with four Liebherr cranes (one LHM-280 and three LHM-180), material handlers and font- and fork-lift trucks. The docks can accept various cargoes, including ballast, sand, cement and general cargoes, including containers, needed to build the Olympic facilities.

 All docks should be fully built and the port should achieve design capacity for 5 million tonnes of cargo in December 2010.

Converting the port into a marina

 The port should be turned into a marina with 600-700 berths for yachts and coastal infrastructure in 2014. All comfort and safety conditions for vessels and their users will be provided for. The marina will have a commercial and recreation zone with restaurants, a swimming pool and tennis court, and service, repair and winter storage area for yachts.

 Basic Element and Island Global Yachting (IGY), the leading international marina operator, signed a Memorandum of Intent in September 2009 that should lead to an agreement on management of the yachting marina.

 It is thought that IGY will manage the marina, look for clients, carry out the marketing campaign, and provide first-rate services and technical support for yachtsmen and women from all over the world.

Basic Element's Port Business Project

 Basic Element established its Port Business Directorate in February 2007 to consolidate and further its port construction and development projects and related freight logistics and warehouse projects.

 Yury Rufovich Tyamushkin is the Port Business Directorate's Managing Director.

 Vladimir Mikhailovich Sheyanov is the General Director of LLC Imeretinsky Port Sochi.