The German automobile logistics provider BLG Logistics and LLC Fenix, owner and operator of Bronka Port (Russia), signed today a long-term cooperation agreement to handle automobiles of Volkswagen Group Russia at the Port of Bronka, as announced in BLG’s press release. With this agreement BLG transfers its terminal activities in Russia from the Sea Port of Saint-Petersburg (stevedoring company of UCL Holding) to Bronka.
The port of Bronka is a new state-of-the-art container and ro-ro facility at the area of about 120 hectare on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland in Lomonosov, 55km west of Saint-Petersburg, opened in December 2015. With a direct rail and road connection and a 12.4m deep berth for ro-ro vessels, the port offers ideal conditions for the import and export of vehicles.
BLG and Fenix agreed to start with a 12-hectare area capable of storing 6,000 cars and 25 truck loading/unloading bays and to consequently develop the scope of services offered by Bronka. Apart from Volkswagen cars, the port will handle vehicles of other brands manufactured by Volkswagen Group, i.e. Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Skoda. The volume of handling services will depend on the Group’s export and import volumes. Imports include cars shipped from Bremerhaven mostly for the Moscow and Saint-Petersburg market. Export volume is dispatched from Volkswagen plant in Kaluga (Russia).
According to Fenix, BLG will use European short sea ro-ro carrier KESS, a subsidiary of K Line, calling Bronka once a week. However, other carriers, like Finnlines, may also be employed at a later stage. The first delivery of automobiles has already been effected this month.