The Ministry of Natural Resources plans to complete the conversion of two research vessels into cruise ships by the end of 2024. Possible contractor - Slavyansky Ship Repair Plant. Experts estimate the project at RUB 0.5 billion.

Average age of the world’s merchant fleet has increased by 10% over the recent decade largely due to the environmental agenda. Meanwhile, it makes investments in five year old tonnage more profitable, hence certain opportunities for Russian ship owners.

In Russia, Moscow is the center of cargo distribution in most cases even if imports flow via the Far East and consumers are in the Volga Federal District. Aleksey Sudakov, Advisor to the Presidential staff of the Republic of Tatarstan for logistics development, tells IAA PortNews about logistics decentralization issues in the region.

In 2022, Federal Tax Service noted mixed trends of cargo flows distribution: 7-pct decrease in terms of volumes and 7-pct increase in terms of value, fall of container throughput in the Baltic region and surge of energy exports and throughput of the Far East ports. Vladimir Ivin, Deputy Head of FCS of Russia, tells about the customs’ strategies in the unstable market conditions.

In 2022, total global seaborne coal loadings increased by 6% to 1.2 billion tonnes. However, it is still below the result of 2019. Sea terminals of Russia increased handling of coal and coke by 2% YoY to 206.5 million tonnes including the products of Russia and its neighbors. Meanwhile, coal exports from Russia fell by 7% according to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. IEA expects Russia’s coal exports to continue decreasing for three years.

The logistics’ eastward pivot and the sanctions have led to an acute need of the domestic fleet expansion. Containerships are needed to unload the Far East routes and to organize a container line in the Arctic.

Lloyd’s List has presented its Outlook 2023, a report on shipping and related segments. According to the analysts, the long-term consequences of the geopolitical, energy and economic shocks of 2022 are hard to foresee — but for shipping, there is at least the possibility of a more optimistic reading of the runes

Having partly recovered from the turbulence caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the shipping community expected the freight rates to be more predictable and the congestion in ports to be fixed in 2022. However, since February, life has made it adjustments in the world trade logistics again. IAA PortNews review is focused on how Russian business has passed through this year and what is expected in 2023.

RF Government continues discussing organization of railway transportation in the eastward direction. The Ministry of Economic Development expects the eastward railway traffic to grow by 60 million tonnes by 2030. The market players consider this forecast to be too low. Analysts say incorrect planning of the country’s key economy focused ministry is to reduce the scale of the future infrastructure projects.

The outgoing year was a turning point for the entire Russian transport and logistics industry with its eastward pivot setting new priorities for the port infrastructure development.