The Ukrainian Seaports Authority (USPA) performed dredging works in six ports and four canals in 2018, the CFTS portal reports, citing the USPA.
In particular, two important phases of major dredging projects in the ports of Chornomorsk and Yuzhny were completed and the water depths in the ports of Mariupol, Berdiansk, Kherson, and Izmail are being maintained.
The dredging work, various phases of which were completed in the ports of Chornomorsk and Yuzhny in 2018, was performed as part of implementation of public-private partnership projects aimed at developing port infrastructure and increasing the capacity of Ukrainian ports. In particular, creation of an approach channel and an operational water body near the Yuzhny port’s berth No. 25 will involve construction and launch of a new MV Cargo grain terminal with a capacity of up to 5 million tons per year. Private and public investments in the project will amount to more than UAH 5 billion.
Work is currently continuing on transformation of the Yuzhny port into one of the deepest ports on the Black Sea by increasing the depths of the sea approach channel and operating waters near its berths Nos. 5-6 to 21 meters.
The approach canal to the Chornomorsk port was reconstructed for the first time in 20 years as part of major dredging works in the port. Work is continuing on the dredging of the waters of the Dry Liman's first bucket. This project will increase the cargo turnovers of the Risoil and Kernel companies, which are investing in the development of their own transshipment capacities in the Chornomorsk port. Investments amount to more than UAH 4.5 billion.
The operations of the USPA’s Meotida suction dredger in the ports of Berdiansk and Mariupol partially solved the problem of maintaining the water depths necessary for the operations of Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov.
In addition, a large-scale dredging operation was launched in Kherson for the first time in seven years in 2018, and dredging work is continuing in the port of Izmail.
Dredging on the Danube-Black Sea canal, the Dnieper-Bug-Liman canal, the Kherson sea canal, and the Dniester-Liman canal helped to ensure the safety of navigation and the operations of private and state stevedoring companies in Ukrainian seaports.
The USPA performed maintenance dredging in 2018 with its own dredging fleet, as well as with the involvement of contractors, which were selected via open tenders. The USPA’s own dredging fleet increased its volume of dredging work 3.5-fold in 2018, compared with 2016.
