3. Read the following texts, translate them and be ready to speak about them. The port of sochi

The port of Sochi is an ice-free port situated at the mouth of the Sochi River, in the eastern part of the Black Sea.

The port is protected by the Caucasian chain of mountains from cold NE winds but it is open to winds blowing from southerly and westerly directions when heavy waves may roll over the port moles causing heavy swell in the harbour.

The port mostly handles passenger traffic. There are passenger terminals, one of which serves hydrofoil ships only. About 3 million passengers visit the port yearly. A cargo pier is equipped to handle fruit, building material and cars. There are enclosed warehouses on the cargo pier and on one of the passenger terminals.

Pilot boat usually meets vessels at the distance of about 1 mile from the port. In the event of bad weather or restricted visibility, vessels should anchor or drift at a safe distance from the port until the pilot arrives.

Deep draft vessels may obtain anchorage in the outer roads westward of the Northern Mole. The depths in the roads are from 11m to 12m.

Some distance westward, in depths 20-23m, there are mooring buoys, which can be used during vessels stay in the road.

The port of archangel

The Port of Archangel is a White Sea Port. It’s situated at the mouth of the Severnaya Dvina River, in the SE corner of Dvina Bay.

The total length of the port area is about 30 miles. Pilotage is compulsory. Vessels awaiting a Pilot may anchor at safe distance to the North from pilot boat location.

Ice breaks up in April. Port area open from end of April to November. During the time of high water vessels can enter the port through the approach channel Berezovy Bar if having length not more than 160 m and draft not exceeding 8.0 m.

37 berths are available with depths alongside up to 9.6.m.

Berths are equipped to handle timber, wood-pulp, paper, machinery and general cargo. Therefore enclosed warehouses and concrete floor sheds are available in the port.

Berths of the commercial port are equipped with mobile electric cranes of up to 32 tons capacity. Loading of timber from berths is effected by shore cranes and vessels’ cargo gear. There are also floating cranes from 5 to 100 tons capacity as well as other cargo handling equipment and interport transport means.

Mobile electric cranes of up to 20 tons capacity are operated on the quays.

The port of st. Petersburg

The sea port of St.Petersburg is situated at the Baltic Sea.

Year-round navigation is possible with ice-breaker assistance from the end of November till the middle of April. Ice begins to form in the middle of November when usual winter frosts come and in January (time varies with the season) all the area becomes completely covered with fast ice.

The port of St.Petersburg provides for a good anchorage. Port aquatorium is divided by moles and dams into several basins (docks) and harbours.

Pilot usually boards a vessel at the port St.Petersburg, approaching light buoy (lat. 60 02’ N, long. 29 26’ E)

All pilots are highly qualified reliable and experienced Ice-Pilots.

Berths of the port with depths alongside of up to 11.5 m are equipped to handle general and bulk cargoes (coal, ores, grain, building material), sugar, metals, timber products, etc. There is also a passenger and container terminals, warehouses, cold stores and concrete floor sheds.

Both opening and closing of hatches is usually done by the ship’s crew, otherwise according to the Charter Party conditions.

There are shore-cranes 5-tons- 40-tons capacity, floating cranes 10, 25, 40, 60, 100 and 350 tons capacity. Fork-lifts 1-25 tons are available. Stevedores are ordered by the Agent.