Published on: 2026-10-12
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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Fourth-year female students of the Automotive and Road Faculty (ADF) of the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering passed the preliminary round of the International Transport Project Competition of the Russian University of Transport (RUT (MIIT)) and will present their project in the final in Moscow.
The team ‘Smart Logisticians’ included Kseniya Tretyakova, Valeriya Pyatova, Galina Ryleva and Victoria Smirnova, students in the educational program “Technology of Transport Processes.” The young women successfully completed the project case of the company “SIBUR PoliLab,” dedicated to the transition from metal containers to polymer ones in global logistics.
International transport project competitions bring together students and young professionals from Russia and other countries. Participants solve practical problems in the field of transport infrastructure, logistics, digitalization, and engineering innovations, offering solutions for the development of the transport industry.
From problem to engineering solution
The team at SPbGASU was tasked with finding an alternative to the metal containers used in marine logistics. They are prone to corrosion, have significant weight, deform under storm loads, and require replacement every three to five years. According to the research conducted, using such containers also results in a loss of up to 15% of the vessel’s useful cargo capacity. At the same time, available imported polymer alternatives do not always meet the operational requirements in severe frost conditions and depend on foreign supplies.
To solve the case, the students chose the basic project track, which involves a sequential approach to the problem: from analyzing stakeholders and testing hypotheses to developing a design and economic justification.
At the first stage, the girls created an engagement map, including container manufacturers, fish harvesting and processing enterprises, shipbuilding and logistics companies, port services, suppliers of polymer raw materials, and certification organizations. Then they conducted a problem interview and identified the main requirements for the future product.
As a result, the team proposed developing domestically produced frost-resistant polymer containers for the fishing fleet based on SIBUR PolyLab polymer compositions. The container must withstand exposure to seawater, fish oil, low temperatures, and storm loads, while being convenient for sanitary cleaning and multi-tier stacking.
Design based on real operating conditions
The female students prepared the requirements for the product, developed a 12-month work plan, presented calculated scenarios and load visualizations. The three-dimensional model of the container includes reinforced corners, stiffening ribs, and walls 6–8 mm thick.
The proposed design has dimensions of 1200×1000×650 mm, an estimated weight of about 28–32 kg, and a load capacity of up to 800 kg. According to the calculations presented, when stacked five tiers high and subjected to impact loads at a temperature of −60° C, the container retains its strength, and the maximum stresses in the concentration zones do not exceed permissible values.
At the final stage, the team combined the results of their work into a unified project concept: from the stakeholder map and problem analysis to the justification of the solution, product design, implementation plan, and economic calculations.
The ‘Smart Logistician’ project received high praise from the jury, and now the female students of SPbGASU will present their developments in the competition final.
Congratulations to Ksenia, Valeria, Galina, and Victoria on reaching the final, and we wish them success in their performance in Moscow!
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