APM Terminals (APMT) has announced that the Vostochnaya Stevedoring Company (VSC), located in Vostochhny Port, Russia, has upgraded more than 18,000m2 of storage yard with new cargo handling technology.
In a statement, APMT said 592 metres of crane track has been renovated, replacing utilities and power supply systems.
Additionally, new surfacing has increased storage capacity by enabling the stacking of containers six high, compared to three previously.
APMT said the investments will increase capacity and improve efficiency and speed of cargo handling at the terminal.
VSC has already commenced similar reconstruction projects for two more yards with a total area of over 38,000m2, located in the landside area of berths 5-6.
Credit: APMT
That project is expected to be completed by 2021; containers in this area are currently handled by two rubber-mounted gantry (RMG) cranes with a stacking height of 3+1.
APMT said VSC will receive new RMG cranes with a capacity of 50 tonnes. With these RMGs, the terminal will increase handling speeds and the height of container stacking to 6+1.
The new crane cabins are equipped with modern air conditioning systems and high visibility to ensure maximum control.
Four new TOYOTA forklifts have also been added to the equipment fleet. VSC currently operates 28 forklifts with a capacity of 1.5 to 5 tonnes.
The new forklifts will have a capacity of 1.5 to 3 tonnes, are also able operate both indoors and outdoors, including in a salty marine air environment.
VSC also plans to add six new Kalmar T2 terminal tractors to its fleet in the coming quarter. Six new semi-trailers for the tractors, with a capacity of 60 tonnes, have already been delivered to the terminal.
Last month, VSC inaugurated a customs bonded storage area, which allows customers to store import and exports goods for up to three years without paying customs duties.
The usable area of the open yard is 175m2, and the usable volume of the covered warehouse is 1,239m3. The customs warehouse has equipment to allow for customs control procedures to take place and also guarantees the safekeeping of the goods with no unauthorised access to the yard.
“We are constantly working to improve services for our customers and the opening of the customs warehouse is yet another step towards meeting the requirements of our customers,” said VSC’s Managing Director Alexey Pavlenko.
“We expect that this addition will help the customers engaged in foreign economic activity to reduce their costs, as they will not be required to move their goods to customs warehouse yards outside of VSC,”
VSC operates in Vostochny Port and is one of the largest container terminals in the Russian Far East, and the starting point of the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
The company is one of five Russian terminals in the Global Ports group – a joint venture that combines the global expertise of APMT and Delo.
