Ice floes up to 2 meters wide damage Dudinka port berths every year. The water rises up to 20 meters and floods the port. Alexey Novakov, the Port Director, tells us how to ensure a sustainable supply for the Taimyr Peninsula.
- The Dudinka Seaport is the northernmost and the only port in the world that is flooded annually. How do you cope with the situation?
- This is a typical situation for us, and ours is the world’s only ports like this.
About the middle of May, we stop winter navigation and evacuate all infrastructure that supports the facility's operations. When the berths are released from the water, we assess the damage.
There is always damage because the ice drifting along the Yenisei is one of the most crushing in the world. Ice floes can reach the height of a four-story building. They damage berths, railroad and crane tracks, and power lines. All these things need to be restored. We strive to work as quickly as possible to receive and dispatch cargoes from Nornickel and other companies again.
- This is a typical situation for us, and ours is the world’s only ports like this.
About the middle of May, we stop winter navigation and evacuate all infrastructure that supports the facility's operations. When the berths are released from the water, we assess the damage.
There is always damage because the ice drifting along the Yenisei is one of the most crushing in the world. Ice floes can reach the height of a four-story building. They damage berths, railroad and crane tracks, and power lines. All these things need to be restored. We strive to work as quickly as possible to receive and dispatch cargoes from Nornickel and other companies again.
- How long does it take to get the port back up and running?
- Several weeks. Berths of 8 meters in height against the Baltic elevation are the most affected. They are used for unloading sea class vessels that come to us from Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, and the Kara Sea, i.e. from the Northern Sea Route.
Berths which are 14 meters high are located at the Dudinka River. They are flooded less, and we start operations there earlier, as soon as the ice flow passes. River vessels and barges with essential foodstuffs for Arctic residents go to these berths.
- Several weeks. Berths of 8 meters in height against the Baltic elevation are the most affected. They are used for unloading sea class vessels that come to us from Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, and the Kara Sea, i.e. from the Northern Sea Route.
Berths which are 14 meters high are located at the Dudinka River. They are flooded less, and we start operations there earlier, as soon as the ice flow passes. River vessels and barges with essential foodstuffs for Arctic residents go to these berths.
Dudinka is navigable all year round. From November through May in winter and from June through October in summer. About 4 mtpa of cargo passes through the port, received and dispatched from 30 berths: 8 maritime berths, 21 river berths, and one for special cargoes.
Dudinka was founded in 1667, and the city's population is over 20,000.
- What is the cargo turnover of the Dudinka Seaport? And what are these cargoes?
- About 4 mt. The best indicator in the last 30 years is 4.5 mt. There are several types of cargoes. They are consumer goods: foodstuffs and everything required in a household.
There are process materials and project cargoes for subsoil user companies. For example, metal structures, contractors' equipment, heat exchangers weighing 147 to 230 tons were delivered through our port for Nornickel's Sulfur Program. This project required dedicated planning.
The roads were built under it, bridges were strengthened, machinery was ordered for loading and transportation, and special piers were installed to distribute the load on the berth. We also deliver construction materials for the Norilsk renovation program regularly.
- About 4 mt. The best indicator in the last 30 years is 4.5 mt. There are several types of cargoes. They are consumer goods: foodstuffs and everything required in a household.
There are process materials and project cargoes for subsoil user companies. For example, metal structures, contractors' equipment, heat exchangers weighing 147 to 230 tons were delivered through our port for Nornickel's Sulfur Program. This project required dedicated planning.
The roads were built under it, bridges were strengthened, machinery was ordered for loading and transportation, and special piers were installed to distribute the load on the berth. We also deliver construction materials for the Norilsk renovation program regularly.
Over RUB 2 bn
was allocated by Nornickel to launch an integrated logistics service at the Dudinka Port. It includes cargo transportation, intermediate storage, security, document control, and scrap handling.
By 2021, the port had purchased the required equipment, and recruited and trained people. Rosneft is the first customer, using the service for the Vostok-Oil Project.
- Is there any shortage of consumer goods due to shipping mainly through the flooded port?
- I have never encountered shortages during my stay in the Taymir. We should give Nornickel credit for organizing a sustainable connection with the mainland. The company has its home fleet sailing with an icebreaker escort, but can also move alone.
The sea vessels run on a tight schedule at least once every 5-6 days. We provide companies with containers, loading limits for each vessel. The businessmen are confident that their cargoes will be shipped. There is alternative shipping by riverboats from June through October.
Only perishable food and medicines and urgent construction supplies are delivered by airplane.
- Do residents of the City of Dudinka work at the port or is the rotational method used?
- We dramatically increase our staff by 200-300 people in some periods. For example, during the summer river navigation season, when the cargo turnover rises. We hire people from the mainland to work on a rotational basis. We built a camp with dormitories, canteens and showers for them. The conditions are very comfortable. People are incorporated into the company's payroll with a full benefits package. Many shift workers join us permanently.
We employ mostly residents of the City of Dudinka with 20,000 people. Our company is a city-forming business. It is prestigious to work at the port, and we often have several generations of the same family working for us. We encourage labor dynasties.
We work with children from school days, invite them to visit us, organize exhibitions of port equipment. We cooperate closely with the local college and boarding school, where children from remote settlements live. Last year, we initiated a training group for tower crane operators. The competition for the program was higher than for some universities!
- I have never encountered shortages during my stay in the Taymir. We should give Nornickel credit for organizing a sustainable connection with the mainland. The company has its home fleet sailing with an icebreaker escort, but can also move alone.
The sea vessels run on a tight schedule at least once every 5-6 days. We provide companies with containers, loading limits for each vessel. The businessmen are confident that their cargoes will be shipped. There is alternative shipping by riverboats from June through October.
Only perishable food and medicines and urgent construction supplies are delivered by airplane.
- Do residents of the City of Dudinka work at the port or is the rotational method used?
- We dramatically increase our staff by 200-300 people in some periods. For example, during the summer river navigation season, when the cargo turnover rises. We hire people from the mainland to work on a rotational basis. We built a camp with dormitories, canteens and showers for them. The conditions are very comfortable. People are incorporated into the company's payroll with a full benefits package. Many shift workers join us permanently.
We employ mostly residents of the City of Dudinka with 20,000 people. Our company is a city-forming business. It is prestigious to work at the port, and we often have several generations of the same family working for us. We encourage labor dynasties.
We work with children from school days, invite them to visit us, organize exhibitions of port equipment. We cooperate closely with the local college and boarding school, where children from remote settlements live. Last year, we initiated a training group for tower crane operators. The competition for the program was higher than for some universities!
VR simulators of a portal crane, mobile crane, and heavy loader
were installed by the company at the Taimyr College in Dudinka in 2024 so that children could learn the trades that the Port needs. In summer, we put the fourth VR- simulator on the summer embankment in Dudinka. During the holidays, there's a line for it as long as the one for cotton candy.
- So, you count on the youth of Dudinka, don't you?
-Yes, we do. We have young people living here who are fully integrated into the life of the region, adapted to everyday and social activities. They are committed to the values essential for working with the Polar Transport Branch.
It's not just crane operators we train. We also train power engineers, mechanics, slingers, and other specialists. The company runs refresher courses. We also develop our management personnel and form career elevators.
It is important for people to be confident that they can make a career in the company by working honestly. We provide them with decent working and living conditions. We have our home KVN team (Club of the Merry and Witty), a creative team, everything is available for sports activities. The Polar Transport Branch is at the forefront of all of Nornickel's social programs.
-Yes, we do. We have young people living here who are fully integrated into the life of the region, adapted to everyday and social activities. They are committed to the values essential for working with the Polar Transport Branch.
It's not just crane operators we train. We also train power engineers, mechanics, slingers, and other specialists. The company runs refresher courses. We also develop our management personnel and form career elevators.
It is important for people to be confident that they can make a career in the company by working honestly. We provide them with decent working and living conditions. We have our home KVN team (Club of the Merry and Witty), a creative team, everything is available for sports activities. The Polar Transport Branch is at the forefront of all of Nornickel's social programs.
656 square meters
is the area of the sports and recreation center for the Dudinka Port employees.
- What did they award you for exactly when giving you a diploma for your contribution to Russia's sustainable development?
- The company invests tens and hundreds of millions of rubles in environmental programs, and cleaning of the territory.
We are implementing performance improvement programs at the port. We have already implemented 5 out of 9 Lean Production tools. The Polar Transport Branch won the Labor Efficiency Leader Cup in Russia twice.
Last year, we were the first Russian port to receive a certificate of conformity with the quality standards, and we confirmed it this year.
- The company invests tens and hundreds of millions of rubles in environmental programs, and cleaning of the territory.
We are implementing performance improvement programs at the port. We have already implemented 5 out of 9 Lean Production tools. The Polar Transport Branch won the Labor Efficiency Leader Cup in Russia twice.
Last year, we were the first Russian port to receive a certificate of conformity with the quality standards, and we confirmed it this year.
About 10% of port employees
are representatives of indigenous minorities.
Approximately one-tenth of our employees are representatives of small-numbered indigenous peoples. According to my conservative estimates, this is one of the best indicators in Russia. We work with the small-numbered indigenous peoples and their children who attend our college. The Polar Transport Branch gives them a professional qualification and always offers them a job.
We believe that once Nornickel has embarked on the path of ECG development, we should keep going on it and never give up.
We believe that once Nornickel has embarked on the path of ECG development, we should keep going on it and never give up.
Photos by Nornickel
September, 2024
