Russia is preparing for a fuel revolution in global shipping. State support measures are under development for promotion of gas-fuelled ships, departmental programme on technical aspects of LNG-powered shipping is under implementation, scientific and designing organizations are involved in the process, the stakeholders told at the Conference “LNG Fleet and LNG Bunkering in Russia” organized by Krylov State Research Center and Media Group PortNews (Moscow, 25 October 2017).

RF Transport Ministry has drafted regulations to introduce investment duties at seaports. According to the project initiator, those charges are to be invested in creation and development of federally owned facilities at seaports. Meanwhile, there are concerns about a possible negative impact on the attractiveness of Russian ports.

Russian legal practice is seeing the creation of a dangerous precedent with a potential negative impact on the attractiveness of domestic ports for foreign vessels. It is related to the case of the Aframax tanker Delta Pioneer which allided with a pier at Primorsk port on 20 November 2016. Russia rejected guarantees of international P&I Clubs and refused to release the arrested tanker while the amount of the claimed damage conflicts with international instruments.

This year has seen inauguration of Louis Dreyfus Company’s first grain terminal in Russia, in the Azov District of the Rostov Region. Aleksey Tkachenko, Director General of Agroport “Ustye Dona” LLC, tells IAA PortNews about the construction, current and expected activities.

Despite the challenging period when Russian machine building and shipbuilding survived the crisis of 1990-ies, the country continues developing new dredging technologies and state-of-the-art equipment.

In his exclusive interview with IAA PortNews in Moscow, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim covered a wide range of IMO activities: fuel and environmental regulations, Polar Code, autonomous ships, cybersecurity, etc.

Okskaya Sudoverf is among the most dynamically developing shipyards in Russia. In his interview with IAA PortNews, Executive Director of the shipyard Denis Samsikov tells about implementation of the programme on modernization of production facilities, current and expected orders, financial and other aspects of the company activities in the year of its 110th anniversary.

Barriers for cargo transportation in the Caspian region on example of Azerbaijan and Georgia, possible solutions and future prospects.

Reconstruction of the Krasnoyarsk ship lift, unique hydraulic engineering structure allowing ships overpass water level difference below and above the Krasnoyarsk HPP, can begin in 2018, IAA PortNews correspondent cites Vladimir Baikalov, head of Yenisei Basin IWW Administration, as saying at the conference “Ensuring safety and reliability of navigational HESs” held in Krasnoyarsk.

Intensive development of port infrastructure requires no less intensive development of port fleet. Fleet renovation is quite good in some segments while others leave much to be desired. Key trends in this sphere were discussed by representatives of design organizations, state bodies and industry related companies at the 2nd International Conference “Advanced port fleet - the basis of safety”.