The shipping platform

Location: The port is situated in the mouth of the River Volga on the Volga-Caspian Canal. General overview: Astrahkan is an important transport centre where the Caspian Sea and the Volga River waterways cross. The city port has two cargo regions 'Central' and 'Perevalochnyiis' and the Port Authority includes the oil terminal at Ilinka, the sea port of Olya and various other terminals along the river. In winter the River Volga and its adjoining sea harbours are frozen, the navigation period is from Apr - Nov. From Dec - Mar vessels from Astrakhan to the Caspian Sea, approx 100 miles, are convoyed by icebreakers. The port handles metals, metal products, sawn timber, fertiliser, building materials, heavy lifts, petroleum products, containers and passengers. Traffic figures: Over 2,000,000t of general cargo, 3,000,000t of oil transhipments and 1,200,000 passengers are handled annually. Load line zone: Summer Max size: Volga-Caspian Canal: LOA 135m, beam 20m, draught 4.2m. Fishing port: Draught 4.5m.