According to the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelyan, the appropriate order was given by the State Inspection of Ukraine on Safety at Sea and River Transport (Ukrmorrichinspection), as business representatives appealed to open navigation season earlier in order to start cargo flow.
NIBULON’s own cargo fleet has joined in the navigation process immediately; NIBULON’s employees are perfectly ready. At present NIBULON-2 tug and two NBL-021 and NBL-023 barges are bound for “Vitove” branch (On March 11 they will reach the branch). The tugs have all the required equipment and food to operate without interruption in the 2015 navigation season. Soon NIBULON-1 tug with two barges and NIBULON-5 tug will operate on the DniproRiver.
This was preceded by much preparatory work done by the fleet operation service of the shipping company during winter mooring at the transshipment terminal. NIBULON performed maintenance of its vessels and preventive repair of 24 non-self-propelled vessels of the NBL-90 project. The captain-instructor service performed an audit inspection of each vessel for compliance with the requirements of NIBULON’s certified safety management system. NIBULON checked the condition of navigation and radionavigation equipment, machinery and deck equipment particularly carefully. During this period, the company carried out a package of practical and training measures. The crews underwent training during alarm for instruction, such as fire, man overboard, damage control.
For information. NIBULON’s shipping company includes 28 non-self-propelled vessels, 6 self-built tugs of the POSS-115 project (two of them were built at NIBULON shipbuilding and repair yard) and 3 purchased tugs, a dredger, plus St. Mykolai self-propelled floating crane.
Last navigation season NIBULON’s cargo fleet shipped (including for export) more than 2.5 million tons of grain along the Dnipro River. As the fleet is developed and new vessels are constructed at NIBULON shipbuilding and repair yard, the company plans to bring the annual transportation volume up to 3 million tons.
