In the first quarter of 2009, Russian seaports achieved a 4.5-pct increase of total throughput to 110.6 million tonnes with the crude and oil products accounting for the core gain according to the Association of Sea Commercial Ports. In the reported period, transshipment of liquid bulk cargo climbed by 12.8% to 70 million tonnes. However experts admit that oil cargo transshipment may fall throughout the entire year

On April 8, 2009, RF Minister of Transport held a meeting to discuss a draft Concept for reforming the system of Russia’s inland waterways management. PortNews provides the summary of the report of Aleksandr Davydenko, head of Russia’s Federal Agency of Marine and River Transport

Aleksei Timofeyev, deputy Director General of RESO Garantia, head of the company’s board for VIP customers, tells PortNews IAA about the prospects of Russia’s marine insurance market

The United Shipbuilding Corporation (OPK) does not plan postponing implementation of a project on creation of a shipbuilding complex on the basis of shipbuilding plant Severnaya Verf in St. Petersburg. However the volume of investment is to be adjusted due to the economic crisis. Meanwhile the future of Baltiysky Zavod is uncertain – the shipyard has no vessels under construction (the latest icebreaker is expecting the delivery to the customer) though there is a contract for construction of a series of floating nuclear power stations for Energoatom

Participants of the foreign trade activities should not expect remissions from the customs. Experts are sure the customs as it is today is not able to respond adequately to alterations in the economic situation. Part of its functions is handed over to tax authorities. Changes are to come to the market of services related to customs clearance: large transport companies are likely to start creation of their own customs brokers

Ust-Luga had hardly started operation when it found itself in a severe economic storm of the global financial crisis. Nevertheless, the port steadily continues its development and is likely to reach the throughput of 9 million tonnes in 2009 having increased it by almost a third as compared with that of 2008

The effective date of the Convention in Russia became known only in late February: May 24, 2009. Meanwhile, there is a presumption against reasonability of such an unconditional accession of the Russian Federation to the above Convention. A number of problems related to its application can be acknowledged today

Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (UDP OJSC), Ukraine’s national carrier providing strategic river and sea-and-river export transportation of raw materials as well as mining and smelting products, is on the brink of bankruptcy. Vidim Sukhonenko, UDP President and head of the BOD tells about the company’s opportunities, social problems and ways to solve them

Transshipment of oil cargo in Russian ports goes up against the decreasing turnover of other freight. In January-February 2009, Russian ports increased total throughput by 5.2% as compared with the same period of the previous year

An extended meeting of the Transport Ministry’s Collegium was held on March 13. PortNews IAA provides the report of RF Transport Minister Igor Levitin on the transport industry results of 2008