Is age an obstacle?
The summer navigation 2007 ended with a large-scale disaster in the Kerch Strait. The consequences of the storm of November 11 caused introduction of several restrictions for river vessels. The navigation to southern ports will be closed on November 22, ahead of the schedule, hence a number of vessels will not be able to carry out their planned deliveries. Russian Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorrechflot) plans to set a 25-year deadline for use of ships thus bringing operation of the off-harbor transshipment complexes in the Russia ports into a question. Large ship owners are worried with such a decision being sure that reliable companies should not respond for the faults of careless ship owners.
The storm in the Black Sea and in the Sea of Azov caused unprecedented accidents: four vessels sank, six vessels ran aground and two more tankers were damaged. In the result of the accidents 2,000 metric tons of fuel oil spilled into the sea. Besides, the sunken dry-cargo vessels had about 7,000 metric tons of sulphur on board.
According to RIA Novosti, on November 19, Chief of Rosmorrechflot Alexander Davydenko introduced additional inspection for vessels to sail in the sea. Experts told PortNews IAA such a measure is necessary as a number of shipwrecked vessels did not have a permit for sailing in that navigation area as their technical characteristics could not ensure safe navigation.
Besides, PortNews IAA learnt that the Ministry of Transport also considers the possibility to ban sailing of river-going and sea-and-river-going vessels if they are over 25 years old. However, market players interviewed by the agency say some 80% of all Russian vessels deployed at internal waterways are about 30 years old. Thus the majority of Russian shipping companies will not be able to open the next navigation if such a measure is introduced.
Peotr Razumov, Director General of Vision Fleet LLC (the company’s vessel Volgoneft 111 successfully survived the storm in the Kerch Strait on November 11) told in an interview with PortNews IAA that the intent of the Transport Ministry to set a 25-year deadline for use of ships has already had its impact on shipping companies. “It’s time repair vessels and to pay for maintenance works, the value of which exceeds millions of dollars. However, there are no guarantees that the expenses will be compensated. If the Transport Ministry bans operation of our fleet’s basic part, we will have no contracts for the next year.” Last winter the company invested $8 million into repair and modernization (+30%, year-on-year). “What was the reason to invest considerable sums into our fleet modernization if we are not to operate it?” Mr. Razumov says. He also reminded that Russian shipping companies jointly with the Ministry of Transport have recently made a lot to improve attractiveness of water transportation for export cargoes. “It would be not right if all our work is in vain because of negligent ship owners,” Mr. Razumov.
Besides, the officials doubt reasonability of off-harbor transshipment complexes without taking into consideration 10-year long accident-free operation of storage tankers in Russian ports.
According to Valeri Yeliseyev, Director General of In-Transit CJSC operating storage tankers for heavy fuel oil transshipment in the port of St. Petersburg from 1998, no serious accidents occurred at the off-harbor complex of the port of St. Petersburg throughout the company’s operation. “We are interested in prevention of emergency situations as accidents may cost much more as compared with expenses for safe operation,” Mr. Yeliseyev said. He also reminded that throughout navigation off-harbor transshipment complex in the port of St. Petersburg ensure export of 2.5 million tonnes of oil products.
Viktor Olerski, BOD Chairman of North Western Shipping Company OJSC, thinks the responsibility for the faults of certain ship owners will be born by serious companies. He supports the Ministry’s idea to influence careless ship owners through restrictions though he says he is sure that any large shipping company is quite ready to bear responsibility for its own vessels. “Any normal shipping company is interested in safe operation of its fleet. We regularly invest considerable sums into the fleet modernization. Let’s see at the shipwreck cases: it happened to Volgotanker OJSC, the problems of which have been lasting for three years already, and to a number of small companies operating only one vessel.” Mr. Olerski also noted that the storm did not damage the vessels of North Western Shipping Company, Volga Shipping and Volga-Flot-Tanker. “I’m sure id depends on organization of work,” Mr. Olerski said.