The Chinese vessel Zhen Hua 11 carrying 13 container loaders for a new container terminal of the Odesa-based Transinvestservice stevedoring company (TIS) has moored at berth No. 21 at Yuzhny maritime merchant port in Odesa region, TIS has said in a press release.
“The unloading of the equipment will take around a fortnight. The new terminal loading elevators will start shipping Ukraine’s export grain in mid-October using special, unique technology. Thus Ukrainian farmers and exporters will receive the required additional trans-shipping facilities,” the press release reads.
As reported, there has been a conflict between Yuzhny port and Transinvestservice (TIS). In particular, the port was urging the stevedore to give up its demand of UAH 51 million in compensation for dredging operations conducted by TIS-Ruda Ltd. company near berth No. 18.
In addition, the port demanded that Transinvestservice give up any financial claims on the port over berths No. 21 and No. 22, which were built by the company. Only after this will the port will permit the berths to start operation.
TIS said it was concerned that until berths No. 21 and No. 22 are issued permits for operations they will be unable to receive the Zhen Hua 11. Meanwhile it was impossible to unload the ship at any other terminal because of the cargo’s large size.
Yuzhny port and TIS eventually agreed to develop a one-off temporary scheme for unloading the vessel at berth No. 21.
Transinvestservice Ltd. said in late August that it had acquired 13 container loaders worth EUR 26 million from China’s ZPMC. The equipment will be installed at berths No. 21 and No. 22 at Yuzhny maritime merchant port (Odesa region).
Transinvestservice is one of the largest stevedoring companies of Ukraine. It handles ore and grain.
Yuzhny port was founded in 1978. It is located on the coast of the Adzhalyk firth and is the deepest harbor in Ukraine (the depth of its mooring channel is 15.5 meters, and the depth at its docks is 14 to 15.5 meters). The length of its berths is around 2.6 kilometers. It is able to handle up to 15 million tonnes of cargo a year.
