RUSCON, a leading transport company in Russia, has installed an automated system for loading mineral fertilisers at its terminal close to the port of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea. The bulk cargoes are delivered by trains arriving from all over Russia and then loaded into sea containers or packaged in big-bags before being taken to the port for export. “This automated system, which is much faster and more efficient than traditional methods, ensures that exactly the specified quantities are loaded into each sea container or big-bag,” says Igor Stolovitskiy, deputy director of the Ruscon terminal. The system loads 200 MT (metric tonnes) per hour into the containers or 60 MT per hour into the big-bags. It can handle all types of mineral fertilisers including urea, nitroammophos, ammonium sulphate, potassium chloride and calcined coke electrode. Hopper wagons of all types and open cars with bottom discharging are suitable for this automated system and the railway ramp adjoining the complex where it is housed can hold 10 wagons. The complex is equipped with dust extraction, vibro-download and wagon shifting capability and it is certificated to handle granulated sulphur and ammonium nitrate. The installation of the new loading system is part of RUSCON’s commitment to continue to improve its services to customers. It already has a strong demand for its expert container stuffing services at the off-dock terminal. RUSCON handled almost 120,000 containers through the port of Novorossiysk in 2015, an increase of 11%, despite a significant fall in the country’s overall container traffic.