Volga-Dnepr - Air Transport for Oil and Gas Equipment

As the world’s largest carrier of heavyweight and outsize air cargo, Russia’s Volga-Dnepr Group is one of the biggest providers of transport solutions to the oil and gas industry having transported more than 25,000t of oil and gas equipment since its launch in 1990 onboard hundreds of flights all over the world.

Volga-Dnepr’s strong position is due to the combined expertise of its employees and the unique operating capability of its AN-124-100 and IL-76 fleet of cargo aircraft. Capable of carrying outsize loads weighing up to 120t, Volga-Dnepr’s freighters operate on behalf of leading customers such as BP, Calgary Overseas, Canadian Oxy Offshore International, Exxon Mobil and Lukoil.

The fast and reliable supply chain Volga-Dnepr helps to create enables the world's oil and gas producers to achieve significant time and cost advantages in, for example, the fast delivery of replacement equipment to recover lost production as well as shipments that support oil and gas exploration.

AIR TRANSPORTATION OF OIL AND GAS EQUIPMENT

A good example of the role Volga-Dnepr plays was demonstrated by its services for BP. In 1996, fast and efficient transportation of oil and gas equipment to Columbia by the Russian company’s aircraft helped BP open up an oil reservoir several months earlier than originally planned.

In 18 months, Volga-Dnepr successfully completed more than 120 flights for BP, including services to highland and hardly accessible regions. A unique loading system without lifting cranes was developed and successfully used during the project.

According to expert estimates, the total economic effect for BP amounted to over $200 million. BP is now one of Volga-Dnepr’s regular customers.

AIR FREIGHT FOR OIL PROCESSING EQUIPMENT

The unique cargo carrying capability of the AN-124-100 was further demonstrated at the end of 2004 when the aircraft delivered oil processing equipment weighing 118t in a single flight to Oman. Four oil-processing valves weighing 30,000kg each were delivered from Venice, Italy, to Muscat, Oman, for Aircargo Italia, Firenze HQ and Eagle Global Logistic.

The heavy cargo was delivered to the Arabic Peninsula in 8.5hrs, with a stop in Baku, Azerbaijan. Thanks to exact technical drawings and expert load planning, the shipment took only three hours to load instead of the planned six hours, saving time and money for the customer.

AIR CARGO TO RUSSIA

Volga-Dnepr also successfully carries oil equipment to the Russian Federation for the needs of the country’s domestic customers. Together with KrasAir and the Center for Transport Logistics, it is establishing a cargo hub at Krasnoyarsk airport which is expected to become one of the largest centres to distribute cargo moving from Europe and America to Asia and the Far East. Volga-Dnepr’s scheduled cargo airline subsidiary, AirBridge Cargo, has already transported oil equipment from Krasnoyarsk.

RUSLAN INTERNATIONAL

In mid-2006, Volga-Dnepr and Antonov Airlines established Ruslan International, a joint marketing initiative for the two airlines' AN-124-100 freighter fleets. The new venture was launched to optimise availability of the aircraft fleet operated by the Russian and Ukrainian airlines.

Ruslan International’s AN-124 cargo services are now managed through a joint logistics centre, providing a cost efficient solution for both customers and the two airlines.

SUPER HEAVY AND OVERSIZED CARGO TRANSPORTATION

The international market for 'super heavy' and oversized cargo transportation was valued at some US$500 million in 2006. Thanks to its highly qualified personnel and specially developed loading technologies, Volga-Dnepr Group has earned a 56% share of this highly specialised market sector.

In addition to leading commercial organisations, Volga-Dnepr’s customers include the government departments of the US, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany and other Western European countries. Volga-Dnepr is an appointed carrier of the United Nations.

RUSSIA'S LARGEST CARGO CARRIER

The Group includes companies in aviation, insurance, car logistics and education and operates successfully in the US, UK, China, Ireland, UAE and other countries. The company’s total sales volume amounted to US$500 million in 2006 as Volga-Dnepr became the largest cargo carrier in Russia.

The Volga-Dnepr Group of companies aims to provide its customers with a comprehensive range of air transportation services and to build the most convenient and efficient logistics chains to deliver all kinds of cargo.