Legislative framework is to be adjusted to ensure infrastructure development in seaports of Rostov-on-Don and Azov: the maritime status obtained in 2009 obliges them to apply maritime standards of design and construction while the conditions are typical for rivers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on encouraging shipping companies to use environmentally friendly fuel. In Russia, a pioneer in this area is Sovcomflot which has a series of LNG powered tankers being built with several ships already in operation. They will be followed by construction of required infrastructure in Russia with relevant projects under development.

Fishing fleet of Russia used to be expanded with vessels operated in other countries or built by foreign shipyards. It became possible to reverse the trend and to attract fishing companies have new ships built at domestic shipyards thanks to introduction of state support measures, namely investment quotas known as “keel quotas”.

Fish transportation by the Northern Sea Route is an acute problem. The Sevmorput, nuclear-powered LASH carrier / container carrier, is currently deployed for that purpose. Some market players do not consider it reasonable with a new fleet needed as a comprehensive solution. RF Government’s Marine Board might look into this issue.

Construction of the Bagayevsky low-head hydrosystem is underway on the Lower Don river. Prior to opening of the transit navigation, Sergey Gaidayev, head of Azov-Don Basin Administration, tells IAA PortNews about the previous year results, construction process and its impact on passage of vessels.

A regular meeting of the Board of Directors and General Meeting of the Association of Commercial Sea Ports (ASOP) was held in Saint-Petersburg on 22 March 2019. The conventional business programme carried a jubilee connotation – the country’s first port association celebrates its 30th anniversary. Serik Zhusupov, Executive Director of the Association, answers the questions of IAA PortNews.

It has been decided to renounce the idea of large-scale onshore construction at the port of Shakhtersk (Sakhalin) in favor of offshore transshipment development. In 2-3 years the port is set to achieve a throughput of 20 million tonnes per year while the negative impact on the environment will be even decreased, Andrey Mekhanikov, Vice-President, Shipping and Stevedore Business Activities, East Mining Company, said in his interview with PortNews.

Despite some activities in the global market of oil cargo transportation seen in the fourth quarter of 2018, the situation is still challenging. It is somewhat better for companies with long-term industrial contracts and diversified business structure allowing them not to be completely dependent on spot rates.

Russia’s first tank containers made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) are already in pilot operation being used for transportation of chemically aggressive substances by railway/river/road transport. Once the international regulatory framework for their use by seaborne transport is shaped, the demand for FRP tank containers may see a sharp increase.

Dynamic development of the shelf zone and introduction of new maritime equipment worldwide spurs the development of a new container market segment – offshore containers being used for supplying fixed and floating platforms and being transshipped in the open sea. Requirements concerning this specific type of transport facilities are becoming tougher but still need to be improved.