OTEKO Company, a marine terminal operator of Taman seaport, achieved a considerable progress in logistic processes optimization at Taman bulk cargo terminal. With a state-of-the art system put in place for formation of empty direct unit trains 80% of empty railway rolling stock is continuously sent directly to the loading station bypassing the intermediate classifications. This will significantly reduce the load from the main railways and to enhance the efficiency of transport operations. In the second full week of March a high routing record of 89.6% was hit at the bulk cargo terminal.
The routing indicator is used to evaluate the logistics efficiency which minimizes the time and resources spent for cargo handling in transit. The system’s key element is an automated hump yard at the Panagia station. This high-tech facility makes it possible to accelerate the railway stocks handling and minimize the classifications at the RZD’ main stations.
Gravity is used to split the trains at the hump yard: a locomotive leads the rail cars to the hump yard where they go downhill and are subsequently guided to the intended track by an automated track switch. The Panagia station is equipped with 2 hump tracks, which enables simultaneous handling of 2 trains. The hump yard has 24 tracks, and the state-of-the art automation systems manage retarding mechanisms, switches and auxiliary equipment to assure simultaneous splitting of 2 trains in just
According to the conventional cargo carriage logistics once unloaded at the port the railcars are sent for classification at the main railway lines stations. This increases the load on the infrastructure and takes extra time and manpower. OTEKO Company came up with an efficient and modern solution in the formation of empty direct unit trains right at the port’s hump yard. Once unloaded, the railcars of the same owner are collected in a single train and sent directly to the destination station bypassing the intermediate stages. This significantly decreases the trains’ transit time and takes the load off the main railway lines.
The “data on appurtenance of the railcars to a specific operator, characteristics of the cargo, its shippers and recipients, railcars’ operators and other necessary data is taken from ILSAR logistics information system and is transmitted to the hump yard operators for processing. They use this information to classify the railcars for subsequent dispatch of empty railcars, unloading to the stockyard and formation of new shiploads of coal to be sent to the dispatch recipients. Once commissioned, the hump yard automation enabled us to ramp up the routing indicator annually and hit the record value of 80% this year, which gives a considerable boost to the industry’s mean value,” says Roman Lupook, Director for Railroad, Motor Road and Special-Purpose Transport Department, OTEKO.
Over 200 km of non-public rail tracks were built at the port of Taman. They are capable of accommodating over 6,000 railcars or approx. 80 trains. The company’s railroad facilities have 133 tracks where acceptance, dispatch, unloading and classification of railcars are performed.
The routing level enhancement is a potential for further development. The expansion of the hump yard’s capacity will enable the company to reach even higher indicators and secure its leading position in the field of bulk cargo logistics.
For reference
OTEKO is a marine terminal operator at the port of Taman; one of the leaders in the Russian bulk cargo and liquid cargo transshipment market. The company invested efforts to build a global export hub at the Black Sea coast, which is currently in operation; a port, energy and railway infrastructure. OTEKO’s tax payments make 60% of Taman settlement’s annual budget and 15% of Temryuk region’s budget. The company, a major employer and social investor, being actively involved in the Taman peninsula’s public life, is implementing a targeted program for the development of social and economic potential of Taman.
The automated hump yard at the port of Taman was commissioned in 2023. In 2024, OTEKO’s the Panagia station was ranked third in the nomination “Best Project for Road Transport and Utilities Infrastructure and Industrial and Agricultural Facilities” at X International Professional Competition NOPRIZ (the National Association of Designers and Surveyors).
OTEKO’s bulk cargo terminal at the port of Taman is the first largest special-purpose bulk cargo terminal at the Sound of Russia with a design capacity of more than 70 MTPA of which 60 MT refer to coal, 5 MT to sulphur and 5 MT to mineral fertilizers. The terminal’s berths can handle, in parallel, 4 Capesize bulk carriers with a deadweight of up to 220 kt — the largest ships capable of passing through the Bosporus Strait. The bulk cargo terminal started operation in 2019. Over 100 MT of coal were transshipped over 5 years of operation of OTEKO’s bulk cargo terminal; for reference, this amount would suffice to provide Sweden, Norway or the UAE with electric power for 1.5 years.
