The Russian President arrived in Novorossiisk onboard the ship Kavkaz, which moored at the Novorossiisk commercial port. Despite the cloudy weather and rain, the head of state toured the port onboard the tug Bulatny. Explanations were given to the President by Transport Minister Sergei Frank, Railways Minister Gennady Fadeyev, President of Transneft company Semyon Vainshtok and Director-General of the port, Vladimir Kovbasyuk. Naval Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Kuroyedov told the President about the operation of the Novorossiisk naval base.
The Novorossiisk deep-water port located in Tsemes Harbour specialises in handling foreign trade cargo, including grain and oil. The Novorossiisk naval port can handle 44.5 million tonnes of cargo a year, including 34 million tonnes of crude oil. The port, created 150 years ago, now has a workforce of 4,000. Its cargo turnover has increased by 60% over the last 10 years.