Tugboat owner Rocktree has grown in the past 12 months by expanding into new markets
Rocktree commenced operations in Russia in April 2019, when it started handling bulk cargoes for East Mining Co (EMCO). Its joint venture company, Rocktree EMCO Stevedore, started transhipments from the Port of Shakhtersk, Sakhalin Island, in that month.
Rocktree deployed its multi-purpose Supramax vessel RT Genova and self-propelled floating terminal EMCO-1, along with tugs and barges for this project.
These floating terminals operate offshore Sakhalin Island with four self-propelled feeder barges and assist tugs.
EMCO increased delivery volumes to 9M tonnes during the eight months of ice-free operations.
RT Genova loaded Sakhalin’s first-ever Capesize bulk carrier with cargo from the Port of Shakhtersk in May 2019.
Rocktree’s other floating terminals and barging operations are currently offshore Indonesia.
“It was a milestone year, largely resultant of the success of this joint venture and our new consulting arm,” said Rocktree chief executive Daniele Pratolongo, “which allowed us and our clients to expand into new geographical and commodity markets,”.
Its newly established subsidiary company Rocktree Consulting was awarded its first contracts in 2019. In November, the consultancy completed front-end engineering and design for a new floating terminal for the Bauxite Hills Mine, operated by Australia’s Metro Mining Limited.
Rocktree’s work in Sakhalin enabled EMCO to load cargo on to larger bulk carriers and expand exports, said Rocktree head of business development Daniel Miller.
“Prior to the joint venture, EMCO was largely limited to loading cargoes onto Supramax vessels and a few Panamax vessels,” said Mr Miller. “We can now load onto larger tonnage vessels, post-Panamax and Capesize, thus reducing the transportation costs to end users.”
Rocktree now operates six floating terminals and multi-purpose vessels, 14 tug and barge sets, two harbour tugs, and four self-propelled barges. It handled record cargo volumes of 28M tonnes during 2019.
A full profile of Rocktree is published in the Q2 2020 issue of Tug Technology & Business.
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