PORT OF ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
PORT DESCRIPTION

Location: The Baltic Sea port of St Petersburg, formerly called Leningrad, is situated on the islands of the Neva Delta, at the head of Neva Bay.
General overview: The port is open all year round, with the help of icebreakers from Nov to Mar. Considerable variations in the water level may be experienced due to prevailing winds. The St Petersburg Morskoi channel is approx 15nm in length and leads to the entrance of the port. At the narrowest point there is a bottom width of 80m.
Traffic figures: Approx 11,817,700t of cargo including 190,107teu are handled annually.
Load Line zone: Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Zone for ships of 100m or less in length. Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.
Max size: Max vessel size is 260.0m LOA, 40.0m breadth and 11.0m draft.

Max length of vessels proceeding through the Neva Gates:
- Up to 200m
Draft up to 9.0m
- Up to 190m
Draft up to 9.5m
- Up to 180m
Draft up to 9.8m

PRE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

ETA's: ETA should be passed to the Marine Administration of the Port of St Petersburg, to Harbour Master, by the agent or the Master of the vessel 48, 24 and 2 hours prior to approaching the "Reception" buoy.
If arrival at St Petersburg takes less than 48 hours, notice of ETA should be given within 2 hours after the vessel has left the port of departure.

ETA should include the following information:
1. Name, flag and type of vessel.
2. Callsign of the vessel.
3. Name of the agent in St Petersburg, nominated by the shipowner.
4. Date and time of arrival.
5. Max length, max breadth and max height of the vessel's side.
6. Actual drafts forward and aft.
7. Nt.
8. Type and quantity of cargo.
9. During ice navigation: Ice class of the vessel, engine capacity and material of the propeller.

Master of the vessel is responsible for reliability of the information.

Documentation required:

1. General Declaration or Master's Declaration.
2. Vessel's Crew List.
3. Ships documents.
4. Certificate of Insurance or other financial guarantee of the civil responsibility for damages caused by oil pollution
5. Copies of shipowner or operator's licence.

Communications:

St Petersburg Radio (2,182kHz).
VHF: Port Control, Ch 16 and 26. Movement control, Ch 09.

Health regulations:

The Master should inform the Sanitary-quarantine Service and Agency Company about actual sanitary-epidemiological condition of the vessel (port of departure, presence of rats, mosquitoes) not later than 48 hours prior to approaching the "Reception" buoy. The Master should provide Derat Certificate.

Customs and immigration:

Customs clearance is carried out after sanitary examination. The vessel's Master should provide the following documentation:

Document/ Copies:

1. General Declaration on IMO letterhead stating presence of weapons, ammunition, explosive substances and drugs.
2. Cargo Declaration stating name of cargo, its quantity and presence of transit cargo or cargo without documents.
3. Vessel's Crew List.
4. Money List.
5. Crew Effects Declaration.
6. Reference on drugs intended for medical purposes.
7. Declaration of vessel reserves.

Cargo documentation:

1. Bills of Lading.
2. Manifests.
3. Other documentation required for customs clearance.

Flags: Russian flag, pilot flag and national flag should be flown.
Notices of readiness: Following arrival, Master (agent) should deliver NOR (radio notice) for handling of vessel's holds to the authorised representative of the port.

NAVIGATION

Port limits: On its seaward side the port of St Petersburg is bounded as follows: By a line drawn parallel with and 427m SW of, Ugol'nyy Mol (59°52'N 030°12'E) and Yuzhnaya Damba. Then, NW along the S side of Morskoy Kanal as far as its junction with Malvy Reyd (59°58'N 029°48'E). Then, SE along the N side of Morskoy Kanal to the head of Severnaya Damba. Then, NNE for 2nm to Nevskiy Lightbuoy (59°56'N 030°07'E). Then, E to Ostrov Vasil'evskiy.
Sea buoys, fairways and channels: Ocean going vessels approach through Morskoi Kanal. There are also four natural channels across the delta of Reka Neva, N of the canal, by which small vessels can cross the bar of the river. These channels, with depths of between 2.0m and 3.0m lead directly from Nevskaya Guba into the Neva and its several branches and are marked by light beacons, lightbuoys and buoys.
Pilot: Compulsory. Pilots usually board and disembark vessels at the port of St Petersburg "Entrance" Lightbuoy (60°02'N 029°26'E). In case of bad weather a vessel should follow a pilot boat to the Kronstadt roads where a Pilot will board the ship. Recommendations of the Coastal Radar Station, situated near Peterhoff are available.
Anchorages: Vessels approaching the port from seaward should anchor at the St Petersburg "Entrance" Lightbuoy (60°02'N 029°26'E). The depths in the roads range from 20-25m and the holding ground is mud and sand.
Tidal range and flow: Range 3.5m max (during SW'ly autumn gales).
Dock density: 1000.
Weather: Prevailing winds: SW'ly.
Charts: BA 2395, 2264; Sov 451. Admiralty Pilot NP20.
Traffic schemes: A VTS is controlled by SUDS (Traffic Regulation System).

SUDS comprises:

Traffic Control Post, situated on Dvinskaya 18, Tel: +7 812 114 9495, Fax: +7 812 186 0669.
Coast Automatic Radar System of Traffic Regulation (BARS UDS), situated on the S bank of Nevskaya Guba, 1.4nm to the E from Petrodvorets, Tel: +7 812 427 9804.
Pilot ship "Sankt-Petersburg", situated at St Petersburg "Reception" Lightbuoy (60°02’N 029°26’E).
Restrictions: In the inner roads and the St Petersburg Morskoi Channel, max speed is 6kn.

Tugs: Available. Vessels of 170m LOA and over with draft of 8.5m and over must be towed when proceeding in the St Petersburg Morskoi Channel from the Lesnoi Mole Roads up to Neva Gates.

Coast guard: Available.

BERTHS AND CARGO

Names/Nos: The port is divided into 4 cargo areas. Total length of quayage is 8.4km (7.2km used for cargo handling operations and 1.2km used for technical purposes or as berths for idle vessels). The port covers an area of 270ha.
General cargo/Bulk berths: Heavy lift cargoes are usually discharged in the 3rd area of the port. If necessary, several floating cranes can be used; one with a capacity of 300t, one with a capacity of 90t and several with a capacity of 15t. Handling of heavy lifts can be performed in the 1st and 2nd cargo areas. Loading of pulpwood is performed in the 3rd area by "Stevedoring Timber Company".
Metals: Metal is one of the most important cargo for the port. Metal is handled in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cargo areas. In the 3rd area, the company, Neva Metall Trans, carries out handling of ferrous metals. The company's main purpose is to speed up vessel's handling and concentrate handling of ferrous metals. The company has at its disposal a sheltered warehouse with an area of 17,000m2.
Timber cargoes: Storage and loading of cellulose and paper is performed in the 1st and 2nd cargo areas. Loading of pulpwood is performed in the 3rd area by Stevedoring Timber Company.
Dry bulk: Grain is loaded directly to wagons by specialised equipment. Ocean vessels can be handled at anchorages where grain is loaded directly to river vessels by mobile equipment.
Sugar is discharged in the 1st and 2nd cargo areas and loaded directly to wagons.
Fertilisers are handled in the 1st and 2nd areas from containers stuffed with bulk or from open railway wagons.
Potash is loaded from wagons and river vessels by a direct variant.
There is a special terminal for coal handling. It is situated in the 4th cargo area and equipped with 2 berths. A large open ground allows the storage of different types of coal separately. A conveyor is used for coal handling. Loading rate is 7,000t/shift.
Container berths: Container operations can be carried out in practically all port areas but containers are handled most effectively in the 3rd area of the port at a specialised container terminal. The container terminal has a capacity of 20,000 containers, handling 300 containers per day.
Tanker berths: Liquid bulk: Liquid products of the oil refinery can be transhipped from/to river tankers in the inner anchorages (directly or by lighter) in the basin between areas No 2-3 and 3-4.
Storage: Storage includes mechanised warehouses, cold storage and open concrete-floored sheds. There are 105,000m2 of covered warehouses and 940,000m2 of paved open storage areas available.
Cargo: Refrigerated cargoes are handled in the 1st and 2nd cargo areas and discharged directly to rail wagons and road transport.
Bagged cargoes and packages are handled in all cargo areas, except the container terminal (with the exception of cargoes coming by Ro-Ro vessels).
Ballast/slop reception: Available.
Security: Security is provided throughout 24 hours by the port's security service.

GENERAL

Repairs: Available.
Docking facilities: Available at Kanonersky Ship repairing Yard but they do not belong to the port.
Bunkers/water/stores: Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: Bunkers are available and are normally delivered by barge or lighter.
Medical facilities: Basic facilities in port, several hospitals in the city.
Transport: Nearest airport: Nearest airport is 30km distance from the port. International departures from St Petersburg.
Nearest railway: In St Petersburg.
Crew change: Possible.
Consuls: Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and USA.

Banks: State owned and commercial banks are available.
Public holidays: New Year's Day, International Women's Day (Mar 8), World Labour Days (May 1 and 2), Victory Day (May 9), Constitution Day (Oct 7), October Revolution (Nov 7 and 8).
Working hours: Throughout 24 hours.
Developments: Construction is reported (April 2001) to have commenced on a new bridge across the River Neva. The bridge is scheduled for completion in May 2003. Plans have been announced for the construction of a refrigerated cargo terminal. It is reported (April 2001) that a contract has been awarded to upgrade and improve VTS services in the E part of the Gulf of Finland. The system is scheduled for completion in 2004. Ongoing projects include the modernisation of Berth 101 and construction of a mineral fertiliser and potash handling complex on Berth 106/7. It is reported (May 2001) that the extension to the "First Container" terminal has been completed. It is reported (Sept 2001) that the Baltic Bulk Terminal is expected to be commissioned in Nov 2001. The passenger terminal is to be refurbished with completion ready for the 300th anniversary of the port in 2003.
Surveyors: Available.
Garbage: Collection is provided.
Fumigation: Possible.
Pollution: Strictly prohibited.