OREANDA-NEWS.  February 20, 2012. Cargo traffic at the port of Ust-Luga in January surged more than 2.7 times from a year earlier to 2,266,300 tons, the Authority of Big Port St. Petersburg.

The spike in traffic volume was driven by a 67-percent surge in coal and coke volumes to 970,700 tons, a 62-percent gain in general cargo traffic, to 139,700 tons, including 108.7 tons of ferrous metals (+48%).

In January, the UL liquid bulk terminal handled 982,200 tons of oil products. The volume of ferry cargo nearly doubled to 100,400 tons.

Port of Ust-Luga is located on Russia’s border with the EU. Now, Rosmorport is implementing the port’s dredging project to deepen the harbor and a 3.7km approach canal to 17.5 meters. Besides, Rosmorport plans to have the second approach canal completed by the end of this year. The port will become the only Russian port on the Baltic Sea capable of accommodating 75,000dwt bulkers and 120,000dwt tankers. Today, the port has six fully operating terminals (nine more to be commissioned soon). Overall, there will be 19 terminals commissioned by 2018. In 2010, Ust-Luga port handled 11.8 million tons of cargoes and 65,500 imported vehicles. By 2018, the port’s annual throughput is expected to increase to 180 million tons.