OREANDA-NEWS. January 17, 2013. Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port Group (“NCSP Group” or the “Group”) (LSE: NCSP, Moscow Exchange: NMTP) announces that on 11 January 2013 its subsidiary Novoroslesexport received delivery of two new LIEBHERR LHM 550 pneumatic drive mobile harbour cranes with lifting capacities of 104 tonnes. The cranes are expected to be commissioned in February 2013.

One of the priorities in NCSP’s Development Strategy to 2020 is to increase operational efficiency, including through replacement of its loading equipment.

Novoroslesexport General Director Albert Likholet said: “The technical characteristics of these cranes are in line with the requirements of our plan to increase Novoroslesexport’s annual capacity to 700 thousand TEU. These cranes will be able to load larger vessels and make it possible to handle any type of cargo. This new equipment will be able to handle POST-PANAMAX class container ships capable of holding up to 7,000 TEU with a beam of up to 43 metres.

“We selected these cranes based on the experience of Novoroslesexport, NCSP and Novorossiysk Grain Terminal. Based on a comparative analysis of cranes from various manufacturers we reached the conclusion that LIEBHERR mobile port cranes offer the best technical and economic characteristics, which is evidenced by the high level of demand they enjoy globally, including in the CIS. Similar equipment has performed well at other NCSP Group subsidiaries.”

NCSP Group is the largest port operator in Russia and the third-largest in Europe, in terms of cargo turnover. NCSP shares are traded on Russia's Moscow Exchange (ticker: NMTP) and on the London Stock Exchange in the form of GDRs (ticker: NCSP). 50.1% shares of PJSC “NCSP” belong to Novoport Holding Ltd, the beneficial owners of which are OJSC “Transneft” and Summa Group. NCSP Group cargo turnover in 2011 totalled 157 million tonnes. Consolidated revenue according to IFRS totalled USD 1,050 million and EBITDA was USD 550 million, in 2011. NCSP Group consolidates the following companies: PJSC “Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port”, LLC “Primorsk Trade Port”, PJSC “Novorossiysk Grain Terminal”, OJSC “Novorossiysk Ship Repair Yard”, OJSC “NCSP Fleet”, OJSC “NLE”, OJSC “IPP”, CJSC “Baltic Stevedore Company” and CJSC “SFP”.