In early September the first commercial vessel made call to unload at MMPK Bronka, a versatile transshipment complex (Big Port St. Petersburg). Antonio Raimo, Manager of TransRussiaExpress line of Finnlines, in an interview with IAA PortNews told about the details of the first call at the new port of Bronka in St. Petersburg.

Water tour along the rivers and canals is a well known brand of Saint-Petersburg. Every summer citizens and guests of Saint-Petersburg are invited to unique water routs. Meanwhile, market players say the development of water tourism in the city is hindered by the lack of public berths.

Russia is set to actively develop its shipbuilding industry but state-of-the-art technologies are required for that. In the interview with IAA PortNews, Alain Houard, Vice President, Marine & Offshore industry at Dassault Systèmes, shares his opinion on availability of modern software in Russia, global trends and new solutions in this industry as well as the impact of international sanctions on the Russian market.

Kaliningrad Region still perseveres in its attempts to build a deepwater cargo port. Passenger and LNG terminals are considered as the port’s components. Three variants have been elaborated for a port valued at RUB 207 bln and requiring dredging of 103,000 cbm of material.

Andrei Obukhov, Head of Baltsudoproekt Central Design Bureau, tells IAA PortNews about trends in ship design sector, CDB development plans, import substitution in shipbuilding, cooperation with foreign partners and personnel training.

Elsflether Werft (Lower Saxony, Germany) will celebrate its centenary in 2016. Shipyard representatives share the Company’s experience and plans with IAA PortNews readers.

USC and the consortium headed by Rosneft are likely to compete in construction of large capacity vessels – both are involved in projects to become operational from 2016-18. Foreign shipbuilders are to be sidelined with prohibitive measures being prepared by RF Government. The only question is about the demand for such ships amid low energy prices.

In his speech at the Eastern Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on ensuring regular container transportation along the Northern Sea Route. In Russia, this issue is being worked over under the auspices of CNIIMF, which talks IAA PortNews though the progress.

Nikolay Kolesnikov, Chief Financial Officer of PAO Sovcomflot tells IAA PortNews about the Company’s performance in the first half of 2015, prospects of the tanker market and plans for the development.

RF Government has expanded the roadmap to improve customs administration with new measures designed to further simplify transit transportation. Experts believe those measures will help attract containerized cargo to domestic ports though not everything required has been done yet.