OREANDA-NEWS. May 14, 2010. Culture of navigation development along Dnipro river has a long history. But during the years of independent Ukraine glorious history of Dnipro river has “faded away”. The crisis in the economy of our state, reducing of production volumes, has seriously affected the working data of transport industry. The existing fleet became outdated, shipbuilders noted the lack of stability of earnings and confidence in the future. In other words, at the moment there is no infrastructure of the industry, and no one is involved in sustaining the waterways. Here is the result: in 2009 only 0.9 million tons of cargo was transported along Dnipro river (for comparison, in 1991, this figure compiled 18.3 million tons).

In Western Europe, there is an opposite tendency. Due to the large number of rivers, ports penetrated hundreds of kilometers into European continent and in their work they base on the powerful river arteries, connected between each other with system of channels. The combination of sea and river transport creates a unified water transport system. Cargo traffic penetrates far inland.

In France, Belgium and the Netherlands non-self-propelled vessels are quite widespread, that can be used by almost all waterways in these countries. Experience in the field of developed Western countries shows that river navigation is profitable.

Today, after almost 20 years of Ukrainian independence, we have a real project for the progressive path of development of river transport in our country. Revival of Dnipro River is not a myth, and “NIBULON” has proved it.

 In 2009 our company announced the start of a unique investment project, its main aim is the revival of Dnipro River as the main water way of Ukraine. The project includes construction of eight elevators, four of them are transshipment terminals, and creation of its own non-self-propelled and self-propelled fleet.

Please note our company independently creates the entire infrastructure for the renewal of navigation on Dnipro River. It includes creation of tug fleet, construction of non-self-propelled vessels, and transshipment terminals, inspection of navigable waterways and, if necessary, their reconstruction. But this is a huge scope of work within a very short period of time.

The launching of the first vessel was held in April 2009, and 12 months on non-self-propelled fleet already consists of 20 vessels of “river-sea” type, with deadweight of 90 thousand tons, and three tugs. Vessels are directed primarily on the passage of Dnipro River for the intake of agricultural products on the transshipment terminals and its subsequent transportation and shipment to self-propelled vessels. During the same time, our company has constructed and commissioned two transshipment terminals and two inland silos in Poltava, Cherkasy and Zaporizhzhya regions. Own fleet, a network of transshipment terminals and inland silos will give a strong impetus for the development of river transport industry in Ukraine in general. It will enable: firstly, to move closer agricultural producer to the final consumer; secondly, to increase the capacity of goods transported by river transport (20 vessels are almost “the elevator on water”); thirdly, to increase the profits of farmers by UAH 50-70 per ton; fourthly, to create thousands of work places for metallurgists, shipbuilders, constructors, etc. Taking into account the multiplier factor, the profit of each market participant increases several times.

It has finally happened ...

On the 26th of April, 2010 “Prybuzhany” tug with non-self-propelled vessel NBL 015 went to the first trip along Dnipro River to the transshipment terminal of “Vitove” branch of “NIBULON” (Chygyryn district of Cherkasy region). An essential step was taken, “NIBULON” seriously prepared to it. This step is not only important, but also risky. As it was already mentioned, the volume of navigation along Dnipro River decreased, attention to the water way respectively reduced. Absolutely essential is the maintenance of the status of the depth that is necessary for ship journey. To restore navigation along Dnipro River only (!) in the area of transshipment terminal in “Vitove” village our company spent about USD 1 million.

Preparation of company’s berth was held before call of the vessel. 19 buoys were lined up by state enterprise “Ukrvodput’” on the main route of water approach to the terminal. Documentation of the berth was checked by inspector of State fleet inspection before the shipment of agricultural products.  Certificate on availability of documentation for the waterway was issued in the course of the supervision. This act is an official confirmation of berth readiness for shipment on water transport.

The vessel passed the dangerous water way, considering the steep topography of some areas of Dnipro River. We managed to implement call of our own non-self-propelled vessel along Dnipro River only in the end of April for the first time, because of the threat of floods in the river, water discharge was made, and the depth did not allow ship journey.

The tug successfully passed its first Kakhovs`kyy lock in the morning on the 28th of April. On the 30th of April the vessel called to the berth of “Kamyanka-Dniprovs’ka” branch of Zaporizhzhya region on passage to participate in the solemn opening of transshipment terminal. After the ceremony the vessel passed: on the 1st of May - Zaporizhzhya lock, on the 2nd of May – Dniprodzerzhyns’k lock, on the 3rd of May - Kremenchuk lock.

On the 3rd of May tug approached the berth of transshipment terminal in Vitove village. It should be noted that on the day of vessel call there was an unprecedented number of people at the berth of the terminal. For residents of Chygyryn district the vessel call was not only a significant event, but a real holiday.

Environmental component is also very important for the society. “NIBULON” always adheres to all norms of environmental protection, company’s activity complies with environmental legislation of Ukraine. Advanced, modern and highly effective purification equipment of foreign production is used at company’s elevators.

Three thousand tons of barley were shipped on the non-self-propelled vessel NBL 015 at the transshipment terminal in Vitove. This barley will be delivered to the transshipment terminal of the company in Mykolayiv with subsequent shipment to "YIALIA" vessel (of "Panamax" type) for subsequent delivery to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. In the course of shipment all the equipment was under routine operation.

In future, it is expected to commit about 20 passages in each month of navigation period.

When farmers of Cherkasy region learnt about the forthcoming call of the vessel to the terminal, immediately reacted and the number of accepted agricultural products increased significantly. Only in April about 14 thousand tons were accepted. In total, during the work of the terminal about 50 thousand tons were accepted.