I. Environmental protection in the current economic activity
1. Atmospheric air protection
2. Water resources protection
3. Land plots protection
4. Wastes disposal
II. Environmental protection during operations on shipboard wastes collection
III. Environmental protection during dredging works
IV. Environment protection during construction / reconstruction of port infrastructure facilities
V. The FSUE “Rosmorport” Azov Basin Branch expenses on environmental protection
VI. Environmental activities prospects
Main objectives of the FSUE “Rosmorport” Azov Branch in the field of environment protection are:
- reducing the negative environmental impact that arises in process of economic activity of the branch;
- compliance with environmental legislation and environmental quality standards;
- operational control over the implementation of environmental protection measures by the branch.
Environmental protection activities of the Azov Basin Branch are carried out in accordance with annual environmental protection plans for management and the branch as a whole, developed and approved in accordance with the requirements of the Russian Federation legislation.
In order to ensure environmental protection activities in the staffing table, the Azov Basin Branch has environmental protection group, which deals with the organization of control of the Branch’s compliance with norms and requirements of the Russian legislation in the field of environmental protection, implements measures of industrial environmental monitoring in the implementation of the statutory forms of the branch activity in the seaports of Azov, Rostov-on-Don and Taganrog.
Employees of the branch, engaged in this field of activity, have the necessary specialized education and experience in specialty of at least 3 years.
I. Environmental protection in the current economic activity
In accordance with the requirements of the environmental legislation of the Russian Federation, objects that have a negative impact on the environment must be registered in the federal state register.
As of 01.01.2023, all 6 areal facilities, which are operated by the Azov Basin Branch, have been put on state registration in the federal state register of facilities. Of this list, 1 facility belongs to the II category of objects that have a moderate negative impact on the environment, 2 facilities belong to the III category and 3 facilities belong to the IV category of objects that have a slight and minimal negative impact on the environment.
In the process of carrying out economic activities of the Azov Basin Branch, environmental protection measures are taken in the following areas:
To carry out its statutory activities, the Azov Basin Branch manages vessels of the auxiliary fleet, a vehicles park, production repair base. Within the production control, instrumental monitoring of emissions from motor vehicles and conducting measuring of emissions (pollutants) and opacity of exhaust gases of marine engines are regularly carried out by attracted specialized laboratories.
Pursuant to the Russian Federation environmental legislation, the Azov Basin Branch conducts an inventory of sources of pollutants emissions into the atmosphere, calculates the standards for permitted pollutants emissions into the atmosphere and figures draft standards for permitted emissions in accordance with the categories of objects.
The FSUE “Rosmorport” Azov Branch Pollutant Emissions Dynamics
Significant reduction in emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere in 2018–2022 is due to the fact that in accordance with the environmental legislation of the Russian Federation emissions from mobile sources of pollution (cars and vessels) are no longer standardized and are not taken into account in the draft standards for maximum permitted emissions.
To achieve its statutory objectives, the Azov Basin Branch uses water bodies located in the water area of the Taganrog Bay of the Azov Sea and the Azov-Don Sea Canal, in order to place floating facilities and berths, carry out dredging.
In the prescribed manner, the Azov Basin Branch received decisions on provision of water objects for use:
- No. 61-05.01.05.010-М-RBBK-Т-2018-01842/00 dated 19.06.2018 to carry out dredging works associated with changes in bottom and coasts of the water body at the Taganrog approach channel with a total area of 32.3 sq. km, issued by the Donskoy Basin Water Department of Rosvodresursy, valid through May 10, 2028;
- No. 00-05.01.05.010-М-RBBK-Т-2020-05127/00 dated 20.07.2020 to carry out dredging works associated with changes in bottom and coasts of the water body at the Taganrog approach channel with a total area of 8.35 sq. km, issued by the Donskoy Basin Water Department of Rosvodresursy, valid through December 31, 2030;
- No. 00-05.01.05.010-М-RBBK-Т-2019-04814/00 dated 05.09.2019 to carry out dredging works associated with changes in bottom and coasts of the water body at the section of the Taganrog Bay of the Azov Sea with a total area of 2.7 sq. km, issued by the Donskoy Basin Water Department of Rosvodresursy, valid through December 31, 2028;
- No. 00-05.01.05.010-М-RSBH-Т-2021-05677/00 dated 06.08.2021 to discharge of surface wastewater through outlet No. 1, located in the seaport of Taganrog, with an annual discharge volume of 1.239 cubic meters per year, issued by the Donskoy Basin Water Department of Rosvodresursy, valid through August 5, 2026;
- No. 61-05.01.05.009-R-RSBH-S-2021-05275/00 dated 25.01.2021 to discharge of wastewater (surface water (melt water, rain water) through outlet No. 1, located in the Azov district of the Rostov Region, Don river, 4.5 km away from the mouth, with an annual discharge volume of 4.147 cubic meters per year, issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Rostov Region, valid through December 31, 2025.
In accordance with Article 37.1 of Federal Law No. 155-FZ dated 31.07.1998 “On internal sea waters, territorial sea and contiguous zone of the Russian Federation” (as amended and augmented) the Azov Basin Branch received permissions for burial in the internal sea waters of the bottom soil excavated during dredging:
- permission No. 200M dated 12.02.2020 for burial in the internal sea waters of the bottom soil excavated during dredging in the Taganrog approach channel and the approaches to the hydraulic structures in the seaport of Taganrog, issued by Rosprirodnadzor, valid from March 1, 2020 till December 31, 2028;
- permission No. 215M dated 24.08.2020 for burial in the internal sea waters of the bottom soil excavated during dredging in the sea and river part of the Azov-Don sea canal issued by Rosprirodnadzor, valid from September 1, 2020 till December 31, 2030;
- permission No. 193M dated 30.09.2019 for burial in the internal sea waters of the bottom soil excavated during dredging at the Donetsky bar, issued by Rosprirodnadzor, valid from March 1, 2020 till December 31, 2028.
Besides the use of surface water bodies, the Azov Basin Branch uses groundwater during its economic activities for water supply of its production facilities. In the established order the Azov Basin Branch obtained licenses for subsoil use:
- series RST No. 02608 dated 10.01.2012, license type – VE, issued by the Department of Mineral Resources of the Southern Federal District, valid until 01.11.2032;
- series RST No. 02975 dated 02.09.2013, license type – VE, issued by the Department of Mineral Resources of the Southern Federal District, valid until 01.09.2033.
Under the terms of the decisions on the provision of water objects for use, permissions for burial in the internal sea waters of the bottom soil excavated during dredging, and approved by the Donskoy Basin Water Department of Rosvodresursy programs of conducting regular monitoring of water bodies and water protection zones, the Azov Basin Branch carries out selection and analysis of samples of the used by the branch water bodies with the assistance of attracted accredited laboratory.
Following the last year results, no contamination of the used by the Azov Basin Branch water bodies have been recorded.
Besides, within the concluded contracts of enterprise’s berths lease in the seaport of Taganrog, the Azov Basin Branch carries out production control over berths lessee’s compliance with the requirements in the field of water bodies protection from contamination during operation of leased port infrastructure facilities, interacting with the aqueous medium.
In order to prevent pollution, littering and fouling of the assigned to the Azov Basin Branch territory, the Branch carries out:
- periodical cleaning and timely removal of rubbish and waste on a contractual basis with specialized licensed organizations;
- equipping and maintenance of places of temporary storage of the waste of the branch in accordance with the requirements of environmental protection and sanitary-epidemiological legislation of the Russian Federation;
- control over compliance of lessees of the property of the Azov Basin Branch with contractual obligations on timely cleaning of the used areas and removal of waste.
The Azov Basin Branch keeps permanent record of volume of different types of waste generated in the process of current economic activities, monitoring of places of temporary storage, frequency of removal for reprocessing or recycling.
In accordance with the requirements of the environmental legislation of the Russian Federation, the Azov Basin Branch conducts a timely inventory of production and consumption wastes of the branch and develops the corresponding hazardous waste passports.
The majority of production and consumption waste generated in the Azov Basin Branch, are related to the 3rd, 4th and 5th classes of hazard. The proportion of waste of the 1st and 2nd classes of hazard, such as waste fluorescent and mercury vapor lamps, batteries, is 0.16 % of the total volume of waste of the branch.
For disposal of waste generated in the process of current economic activities of the branch, corresponding contracts on their disposal or placement have been concluded with federal and regional operators, as well as with specialized licensed organizations.
In particular, the first and second hazard class waste is transferred to the federal operator for waste management of first and second hazard classes (FSUE "FEO") on a contractual basis. The third hazard class waste (various oils, bilge and oily waters resulting from operation of vessels and floating facilities of the branch) is also sent to licensed specialized companies for disposal. Municipal solid waste is transferred to regional operators for municipal solid waste management (Ekotrans LLC and Ecogra-N LLC) for further processing, neutralization and disposal, waste and fecal waters flow into the city sewer system.
The FSUE “Rosmorport” Azov Basin Branch Waste Generation Dynamics
II. Environmental protection during operations on shipboard wastes collection
Using its own technical resources and equipment, by efforts of certified professionals, the Azov Basin Branch provides ecological services on collection of shipboard wastes and polluted waters from vessels in the seaport of Taganrog, in accordance with the requirements of MARPOL 73/78.
Activities on shipboard wastes collection is carried out by the Azov Basin Branch in accordance with license No. 077216 dated 19.04.2016 for carrying out activities on collection, transportation, processing, disposal, neutralization and placement of waste of I-IV hazard classes, issued by Rosprirodnadzor Department of the Central Federal District.
Dry solid ship waste collected from vessels is located at the site of temporary storage of waste in special sealed containers for their further placement at the city landfill. Waste and oily waters are collected in a hermetic ship tanks of specialized vessels - oily water collecting vessel and OS-57 bunker barge. Wastewater flows into the city sewer system and bilge (oily) waters are transferred to specialized licensed organization for disposal.
In recent years, no pollution of water area and territory of the seaport of Taganrog in result of the branch activities on waste collection from vessels have been recorded.
Dynamics of the Municipal Solid Waste Collected by the FSUE “Rosmorport” Azov Basin Branch from Vessels
Dynamics of the Waste Water Collected by the FSUE “Rosmorport” Azov Basin Branch from Vessels
Dynamics of the Oily Waters Collected by the FSUE “Rosmorport” Azov Basin Branch from Vessels
III. Environmental protection during dredging works
The Azov Basin Branch pays special attention to the protection of the environment during dredging.
In order to ensure safety of navigation and maintaining the set depths, the Azov Basin Branch conducts annual maintenance dredging in the Taganrog approach channel in the seaport of Taganrog and Azov-Don sea canal.
Maintenance dredging is carried out in accordance with RD (Guidance document) 31.74.08-94 “Technical instructions for carrying out marine dredging” and the applicable rules and regulations governing the rules of performing and acceptance of dredging works.
Dredging works are carried by the Azov Basin Branch on the basis of decisions on provision of water bodies for use for dredging works associated with changes in bottom and coasts of the water body:
- No. 61-05.01.05.010-М-RBBK-Т-2018-01842/00 dated 19.06.2018, valid through May 10, 2028;
- No. 00-05.01.05.010-М-RBBK-Т-2020-05127/00 dated 20.07.2020, valid through December 31, 2030;
- No. 00-05.01.05.010-М-RBBK-Т-2019-04814/00 dated 05.09.2019, valid through December 31, 2028,
issued by the Donskoy Basin Water Department of Rosvodresursy, and also permissions for burial in the internal sea waters of the bottom soil excavated during dredging:
- No. 193М dated 30.09.2019, valid from March 1, 2020 till December 31, 2028;
- No. 200M dated 12.02.2020, valid through December 31, 2028;
- No. 215M dated 24.08.2020, valid through December 31, 2030.
The project for the production of repair dredging works to restore the design dimensions on the Taganrog approach channel and on approaches to the hydraulic structures of the seaport of Taganrog for the period 2018–2028 has a positive conclusion of the state environmental expertise, approved by the order of the Department of Rosprirodnadzor for the Southern Federal District No. 57/OD dated 10.05.2018, the conclusion being valid for 11 years.
The project for the production of repair dredging works to restore the design dimensions on the Azov-Don Sea Canal for the period 2020–2030 has a positive conclusion of the state environmental expertise, approved by the order of the Black Sea – Azov Marine Department of Rosprirodnadzor No. 125-O dated 17.06.2020, the conclusion being valid through December 31, 2030.
Following the requirements of environmental legislation, the Azov Basin Branch developed a project “Production of works to restore navigable depths in the Don river at the Donetsky bar for a period of 10 years”, which has a positive conclusion of the state environmental expertise, approved by the order of the Black Sea – Azov Marine Department of Rosprirodnadzor No. 147-O dated 13.08.2019, the conclusion being valid through December 31, 2028.
In order to ensure control over the impact of the performed maintenance dredging on the Azov Sea ecosystem, timely detection and prevention of exceeding the permissible norms of impact on the environment, the Azov Basin Branch carries out monitoring observations with the selection of samples of sea water and bottom soil, conducting chemical analysis of samples taken in the areas of repair dredging and soil dumping. The monitoring program includes:
- oceanographic observations: temperature determination, transparency, salinity; account of weather conditions, waves and others. features;
- selection of samples of sea water and bottom soil;
- hydrochemical analysis of seawater samples (determination of salinity, oxygen content, heavy metals and petroleum products);
- analysis of sea water samples for the presence and composition of slurry;
- hydrobiological analysis of seawater samples (phytoplankton, zooplankton);
- lithological study of bottom sediments samples (granulometry);
- lithogeochemical study of bottom sediments samples (determination of the content of heavy metals and petroleum products);
- monitoring the bottom and coasts state during works performing.
The results of the monitoring of status of water bodies conducted with the assistance of specialized accredited laboratories are submitted to the Donskoy Basin Water Department of Rosvodresursy on a quarterly basis.
Azov Basin Branch spent almost 58.3 mln rubles and released over 53.4 mln pieces of bream fingerlings juveniles and almost 600 thousand juveniles of carp and 1.2 mln juveniles of Russian sturgeon into the Azov sea basin in the period of 2011 to 2022 as part of compensation activities related to dredging works in Taganrog approach channel and the Azov-Don sea canal.
IV. Environment protection during construction / reconstruction of port infrastructure facilities
One of the main activities of the FSUE “Rosmorport” Azov Basin Branch is implementation of federal investment programs, as well as capital investment program of FSUE “Rosmorport”, aimed at the development of port infrastructure federal facilities and fleet in the seaports of Azov, Rostov-on-Don and Taganrog.
In this direction, the Azov Basin Branch implemented a number of investment projects within construction customer functions execution.
Documentation for all capital investments project objects was developed in strict accordance with the standards and requirements of the Russian Federation legislation in the field of environmental protection. Public hearings were held in accordance with established procedure and positive conclusions of the State and State Ecological Expertise Committees were received.
V. The FSUE “Rosmorport” Azov Basin Branch expenses on environmental protection
In 2022 the total expenses of the Azov Basin Branch on the implementation of measures for environmental protection amounted to almost 48.2 million rubles, including payments for negative impact on the environment and payments for compensation for damage to water biological resources during dredging.
Total expenses of the FSUE “Rosmorport” Azov Basin Branch on the implementation of measures for environmental protection
A significant increase in the branch’s expenses for the implementation of environmental protection measures in 2022 is associated with the implementation of compensatory measures aimed at eliminating the consequences of the negative impact of dredging on water biological resources.
VI. Environmental activities prospects
Main objectives of the Azov Basin Branch in the field of environmental protection for the coming years will become:
• implementation of the planned activities on further reduction of negative impact on the environment, resulted from the activities of the branch, by reducing harmful emissions into the atmosphere, including by using eco-friendly brands of fuel of Euro-3 and Euro-4 standards, reducing harmful impact on water bodies and reducing the amount of waste of the branch;
• strengthening of industrial environmental monitoring on directions of activity of the branch;
• improvement of environmental management systems of the branch;
• introduction of modern energy and resource saving technologies;
• improving the quality of provision to vessels in the seaport of Taganrog of ecological services on collection of shipboard wastes.
