The Murmansk Commercial Seaport, one of the largest ports in Russia, has completed the third and final stage of large-scale project to prevent strong winds and dust clouds disrupting operations.
In a statement, the port said it had installed protective screens measuring 20 metres high and 1,500 metres in length, at a cost of $8.9 million (700 million rubles).
The screens are part of of a wider project between the port and the Federal Service for the Supervision of Natural Resources to improve the environment for workers and residents.
Struck in 2017, the agreement also includes new irrigation systems, the construction of storm water treatment facilities, the creation of an environmental control room, among much else.
“The construction of dust protection screens is one of the most significant events of our environmental program, said general director of the port, Aleksey Rykovanov.
“The technology of their use allows to reduce the wind speed by four times, and the dust suppression efficiency only with their help is more than 80 percent.”
Andrei Chibis, Governor of the Murmansk Region, described the project as ” extremely important for the city of Murmansk”.
The project was launched by studying the best world experience in applying such technologies in the ports of Japan, Australia, China, Canada and other countries.
Subsequently, it was adapted to the conditions of the Arctic, a region of critical importance to Russia’s maritime future as it explores the viability of the Northern Sea Route.
