Dmitry Rogozin says it is necessary to exercise direct state control over the companies of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (OSK). Against this background, Finland, on the contrary, is getting rid of shipbuilding assets. The only project among OSK major ambitions being in progress today is that in the Bolshoy Kamen Bay. However, it is behind the schedule.

Last years saw a considerable increase of container capacities at Big Port St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga driven by implementation of several investment projects. The plans claim additional growth while the terminals have already entered a hot competition on cargo.

Andrey Kuznetsov, Director General of Astramarine Company Group, tells IAA PortNews about new navigation season in St. Petersburg, introduction of e-ticket system and operational readiness of the fleet.

Competition in the range of influence brought two Russian state-controlled giants, Gazprom and Rosneft, to close quarters, having entered the active phase. In April, Rosneft announced its plans to occupy 20% of Russia’s gas market.

World Bank's 2012 Logistics Performance Index rated Russia as low as the 94th, behind such “Third World” countries as Niger, Tanzania, Namibia and others. In the context of Russia’s plans to redirect her foreign trade cargoes to national ports and become a mighty transit power, this status is unacceptable.

The port of Yeisk has hosted the exercise on cooperation of the Azov - Black Sea Branch of Baltic BASU and Yeisk Authority of Azov - Black Sea Basin Branch of FSUE Rosmorport during oil spill response activities.

Konstantin Stolpovitsky, Head of Transport Ministry’s Shipping Department, tells IAA PortNews about improvements of the draft federal law on line shipping regulation, its status and benefits provided to line carriers

In the context of the race for export facilities in the Far East and therefore the deficit of available territories, the investors and the state cast their glance to Sakhalin.

The major underplot of the recently held Baltic Sea Forum attended by the heads of the Baltic governments was, in our opinion, the issue of introducing NOx limits for the vessels’ emissions in the Baltic Sea. ‘Half-Baltic’ Denmark insisted on it while Russia and other Baltic states were more restraint in their comments. Meanwhile, Gazprom is already working on the projects to develop LNG bunkering infrastructure.

Murmansk Region Governor Marina Kovtun tells IAA PortNews about a disputable situation with building a railway link to the western shore of the Kola Bay within the framework of Murmansk Transportation Hub project and about implementation of Arctic Harbour project in the port of Murmansk.