Norilsk Nickel enhances cargo transportation efficiency

Norilsk Nickel announces that the Company’s cargo transportation efficiency has improved. Fleet modernization and further optimization of container transportation with respect to cargos shipped from Dudinka made it possible to improve performance specifications of the vessels and reduce handling time during high-water period.

Since 2008 MMC Norilsk Nickel has been using own vessels to ship metals from Dudinka port during а high-water period on Yenisei River. Before its modernization and equipment with shipboard cranes, loading of diesel motor ship Norilsk Nickel took 16.5 days as it was effected by crane boat in the inner harbor of Dudinka port.

During 2009-2011 navigation period, with diesel motor ship Nadezhda equipped with shipboard cranes joining the fleet, the Company sent two vessels already to Dudinka for shipping operations in the harbor during high-water period. These loading operations showed that handling time for a vessel with board cranes totaled 6-7 days; vessel handling by a boat crane took 11-17 days.

To improve the operational efficiency of the fleet, at the end of 2011 diesel motor ship Norilsk Nickel undergone modernization at the German shipyards, in particular, the shipboard was equipped with two 45 ton cranes, and the vessel’s capacity was expanded.

Thus, in 2012, two vessels equipped with board cranes and capable of effecting loading and unloading operations on their own were sent for shipping operations in the harbor during high-water period on the Yenisei River. On June 10, 2012 at 20.00 (Moscow time) diesel motor ship Nadezhda and modernized diesel motor ship Norilsk Nickel, avoiding the ice drifting area in the mouth of the Yenisei River, entered open waters and in the morning of June, 11 arrived in the harbour of Dudinka port for matte and metal products shipment.

Polar Transportation Division of the Company (PTD) promptly ensured the support required and Nadezhda and Norilsk Nickel diesel motor ships handling began in the morning of June, 11. On June, 17 loading of diesel motor ships Norilsk Nickel and Nadezhda was completed.

As a result of simultaneous processing of two vessels by own shipboard cranes the lay time saved totaled 5 days as compared to 2011 results, in monetary terms amounting to approx. RUB 4.2 mln.

On June, 22 diesel motor ships Norilsk Nickel and Nadezhda will arrive at the debarkation ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, respectively.
On June, 18 the Company’s diesel motor ship Monchegorsk and Zapolyarny arrived in Dudinka for unloading and loading of cargos at the port berths.

ABOUT MMC NORILSK NICKEL

MMC Norilsk Nickel, a company incorporated under the laws of the Russian Federation, is the largest diversified mining and metals company in Russia, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium and one of the world's largest producers of platinum, rhodium, copper and cobalt. In addition to this, MMC Norilsk Nickel produces a large number of other by-products, including gold, silver, tellurium, selenium, iridium and ruthenium.

The key production units of the Company’s group in Russia are at the Polar and Kola Peninsulas. MMC Norilsk Nickel international assets include operations in Finland, Australia, Botswana and South Africa.

MMC Norilsk Nickel’s shares are traded at MICEX-RTS. ADR’s on the Company’s shares are traded on the other the counter market in the US and at the London and Berlin stock exchanges.