Marchl 16, 2011

       The Russian Federation Ministry of Economic Development approved typical form of the agreement on carrying out of activities in the port special economic zone (OEZ), as it has been stated in the corresponding administration’s order.
       In the agreement are stipulated rights and obligations of the administration relating to the economic zone resident and the resident’s rights and obligations. In the order are also stipulated the conditions of change and termination of the contract, responsibilities of the parties, order of the disputes resolution, etc.
       At the present time there is one port special economic zone in Russia which is in Murmansk. It was established for realization of the project of Murmansk transport junction, its managing company is “Murmansk transport junction” LLC (MTU).

       Channel: Morvesti.ru

       April 7, 2010

       The Baltic Ports Organization (BPO) has slammed forthcoming fuel regulations as "unacceptable" saying they will put Baltic ports and shipping lines " in a disadvantageous position".
       The Baltic Sea has been designated as an emission control area (ECA) by the International Maritime Organization, which means ships operating there face stringent fuel sulfur limits.
       While the BPO said that it values action by the Baltic Sea region's governments and the IMO to protect the climate and the environment of the Baltic Sea, it said it foresees a number of threats as a result of the new regulations.
       "Unfair competition rules will be applied in the European internal market positioning Baltic ports and shipping lines in a disadvantageous position," said BPO in a statement.
       "The matter is significant, as hinterland of the Baltic ports is still taking its shape and after introducing the new IMO regulations Baltic ports appear in a low competing situation when compared to other regions in Europe," the Organization added.
       BPO also raised concerns that development of the Baltic Sea region and industries would face a substantial barrier, which is in contradiction to the goals of the EU Baltic Sea Strategy adopted by the European Council during its meeting on 29-30 October, 2009.
       "BPO is of the opinion that a level playing field must be kept within the European internal market and the same rules regarding ship emission should be applied for the whole of Europe," BPO said.
       The Organization recommended that the reductions should be implemented at the same time all over Europe.
       "The SOx limits and time framework introduced by IMO's regulations should be revised together with the consultation process between the regulating bodies and the industry organizations.
       "Baltic ports wish to contribute to the competitiveness of Europe and to climate protection. Therefore, BPO seeks to establish a dialogue with the regulating bodies including European Commission in order to find alternative ways to avoid unbalanced competition within the European internal market and modal back-shift," the Organization concluded.
       Under the IMO's MARPOL Annex VI regulation, the global sulfur cap will be reduced from the current 4.50% to 3.50% effective from January 1, 2012, then to 0.50% in 2020 or 2025, depending on a 2018 review.
       The limit applied in ECAs will be reduced from the current 1.50% to 1.00%, beginning July 1, 2010 before being further reduced to 0.10% from January 1, 2015.
       Currently the only IMO-designated ECAs in force are in the Baltic Sea, in the North Sea and English Channel.

       Channel: Portworld.com

       April 6, 2010

       NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard, the State of Louisiana, and the Chevron Pipe Line Company (CPL) are responding to an oil spill from a pipeline in the Delta National Wildlife Refuge.
       At approximately 1:00 a.m., Tuesday, Berry Brothers General Contractors notified the Coast Guard that oil was discharging into a canal located approximately 10 miles southeast of Venice, La. CPL, which operates the pipeline, reports that approximately 18,000 gallons of crude oil has been released.
       Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office – Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and Chevron Pipe Line Company (CPL), have formed a Unified Command and are working to minimize the environmental impact of the spill.
       The Coast Guard deployed pollution investigators in an HC-144A Ocean Sentry Aircraft that are evaluating the spill. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Coast Guard have pollution investigators in response boats on scene assessing the oil’s impact and monitoring clean-up efforts.
       Upon receiving the initial report of the spill, CPL immediately closed off the affected section of the pipeline and has initiated its emergency response procedures to minimize the environmental impact of the spill. Specially trained company personnel and contractors are responding as part of a comprehensive program to minimize environmental impact. The pipeline is owned by Cypress Pipe Line Company which is a joint venture between British Petroleum and CPL.
       The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the spill.

       Channel: Piersystem.com

       April 5, 2010

       A rule that disallows the use of harmful anti-fouling paint on ships entering ports, shipyards or offshore terminals has entered into force in Singapore.
       The Anti-Fouling Systems Convention (AFS Convention) came into effect in Singapore on March 31, 2010, affecting ships registered with the republic and ships calling at the port, according to legal documents obtained by Bunkerworld.
       Singapore acceded to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulation on December 31, 2009.
       The accession underscores the country's commitment to "environmentally-friendly shipping and port activities", chief executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Lam Yi Young has said earlier.
       The Convention aims to do away with the use of environmentally damaging anti-fouling paints or systems on the hulls of new and existing ships and encourage the use of more environment friendly alternatives such as silicon paint.
       An anti-fouling paint known as tributyl tin (TBT) has been banned by parties to the Convention.
       The Convention also requires ships previously painted with harmful anti-fouling paints to be covered with a barrier coating to prevent doing damage to the marine environment.
       It also ensures that environmentally detrimental sludge and residues - produced as a result of removal of old paints - are properly treated and disposed of.
       The AFS Convention was adopted at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on October 5, 2001, and was entered into force on September 17, 2008.

       Channel: Portworld.com

       April 1, 2010

       The Rotterdam International Forum for Industrial Fire-fighting (IFIF) has found a way to prevent burning oil from a fire in an oil tank from spurting out of the tank with great force. Such a ‘boilover’ resembles a gushing geyser and can cause serious damage within a radius of up to 1000 metres from the burning tank, Rotterdam Port official website reports.
       Since 1925, many scientists have tried to fathom the mechanism behind the boilover, without success. Only two years ago it became clear what mechanism caused such a phenomenon during an oil fire. On the basis of this knowledge, the IFIF set up a study. Following the laboratory phase, it was demonstrated last week in Spain, during several large-scale practical trials, that the method found could also work on the largest storage tanks.
       Insofar as we know, the first boilover occurred in America in 1917, in Bakersfield (California), in a tank of crude oil, which was probably ignited by a bolt of lightning. Other storage tanks, as well as buildings, onlookers and firemen were hit by the burning oil that spurted from the tank.
       Insofar as we know, there have been 30 similar fires since, the latest in 2005. Many of the business premises caught up in a boilover were never rebuilt after the incident.
       The IFIF is concerned with themes relating to industrial safety and incident management. It is a collaboration between the Joint Fire Service, DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond, Rotterdam-Rijnmond Safety Region, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Deltalinqs (the organization that represents the joint interests of companies in Rotterdam’s port and industrial area).

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       March 29, 2010

       The introduction of the new container tonnage is a threat for market recovery. According to reports, new vessels with the overall capacity of about 785 thousand TEU will be launched over the next 4 months.
       The inflow of new tonnage on the market coupled with the return on the services of ships which laid up in 2009 will result the total growth of the container fleet by 9% compared with the rate of April 2009.
       Spot market has already reacted to the supply increase by falling of freight rates.
       With the opening of new services in the near future the new falling of rates is expected.

       Channel: Seanews.ru

       March 29, 2010

       Rosgranitsa (Russian Border Services Agency) is exploring the possibility of removing the commission inspection of ships, reports the agency.
       According to the press release, session of the Bureau of the Public Council of the Northwest Territorial Department of Rosgranitsa took place in Saint-Petersburg.
       One of the main items on the agenda was the discussion of the development of marine checkpoints which would meet the requirements of the Convention of the International Maritime Organization IMO FAL-65 on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic and reduce the term of control of operations.
       The Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin said that the new seaport control procedures are being developed and that it is proposed to abandon the commission inspections of the vessels, which could reduce the time for the transit ships to 4-6 hours.

       Channel: Transday.ru

       March 25, 2010

       In the event of discovery of the containers with hazardous substances that fell into the Baltic Sea from the Finnish container ship Linda traveling from Rotterdam to St. Petersburg, it is not planned to raise them from the bottom of the sea, told the representative of the Swedish Coast Guard on the radio.
       The incident occurred on the morning of Feb. 6 between the Swedish islands Aland and Gotland. According to media reports, at least one of the three containers which fell into the water contains several tons of environmentally hazardous substances.
       The fallen containers with hazardous substances are at such a depth that their environmental impact will be local. This conclusion was made after consultations with experts, including the experts on chemicals.

       Channel: Rpn.gov.ru

       March 23, 2010

       Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on dismissal of Lieutenant-General of the Militia Vyacheslav Zakharenkova from the post of the Head of the Department for Law Enforcement on the transport of the Ministry of the Interior, said on Tuesday the Kremlin press service.
       Earlier in February of 2010 the President of Russia signed the decree on reforming the Ministry of the Interior, which states that instead of the current 20 Directorates for Internal Affairs in Transport in Russia 8 Directorates in Transport of the Ministry of the Interior will be formed and divided into the Federal Districts.
       In February, the head of the state has already dismissed several high-ranking generals of the Ministry of the Interior. Among them Deputy Ministers of the Interior Arkadiy Yedelev and Nikolai Ovchinnikov were also dismissed.
       It is possible that this decision is concerned with the investigation of contraband case where the Head of the Bureau of Operational Investigations of the Ministry of the Interior Sergei Motin was involved.

       Channel: Transday.ru

       February 25, 2010

       According to the message of “Bellona”, the regional parliament of Murmansk region has approved injecting of radioactive wastes (RAW) under the ground, disposal of nuclear repositories brushing aside the public and environmentalists’ concerns and, effectively, giving Moscow authorities a carte blanche to create nuclear repositories in Murmansk, while the costs of handling the already accumulated stockpiles of radioactive waste will have to be borne by regional and municipal budgets. The draft bill was passed in its first reading during a plenary session of the State Duma on January 20, 2010. Non-governmental organizations decried the bill as a means for the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom to attend to its own narrow interests while going bluntly against the interests of the nation; it allows injecting liquid radioactive waste underground, which runs contrary to other Russian legislation, “Law on Protection of the Environment” and “Water Code”; it will place all the responsibility for the disposal of liquid radioactive waste on the shoulders of local municipalities and absolve Rosatom of any accountability for the handling of waste already accumulated; it will also allow authorities to disregard the public’s opinion when making decisions to create radioactive waste repositories.
       The bill probably affects Murmansk Region and its inhabitants. There is a big number of stockpiles of radioactive waste in Murmansk Region. Furthermore, plans are in motion for 2018 and 2019 to start decommissioning Reactor Units 1 and 2 of the Kola Nuclear Power Plant (Kola NPP), which will result in the generation of even more radioactive waste. Mishandling these hazardous materials could spell radioactive accidents with grave consequences – serious contamination for the environment and, of course, the risk of harm to the health of the local population.
       Environmental organizations of Russia have sent the list of amendments to the draft bill to the Russian State Duma, as well as to the regional Duma of Murmansk Region, insisting that the law “On RAW managing” was indeed necessary, but it should not pass in the existing version. On reception of the ecological amendments sent by “Bellona”, the members of a dedicated committee in the Murmansk Duma presented the amendments to the Duma.
       At the next meeting, on February 18th, Murmansk parliamentarians rejected the amendments and voted for the draft bill in its original version. Furthermore, lawmakers declined to allow local environmentalists to participate in the hearing.

       Channel: Bellona.ru

       February 24, 2010

       The leakage of toxic gases that occurred on the 16th of February at the port on the north of the Philippines led to the deaths of three port workers and forced the authorities to evacuate two thousand people.
       According to police spokesman, three repairman who worked on the barge, which was standing near the pier in the port of Batangas in 200 kilometers to the south from the capital Manila, suffocated, and three other people had to be hospitalized in the nearby hospital in the result of the emission of a dangerous gas. The gas is not identified yet.
       Apparently, it was sodium hydrosulfide, they consider in the Red Cross of Batangas.
       Authorities declared a state of emergency in the city, the nearby schools were closed, and about two thousand people were evacuated from the area adjacent to the port.
       Police launched an investigation and has questioned the owner of the barge.

       Channel: Eco.rian.ru

       February 23, 2010

       Last Tuesday from five to seven thousand cubic meters of oil and petroleum products were dumped into the Italian river Lambro from the refinery Lombarda Petroli near Villasante town of Milan province.
       "We are talking about real and unprecedented disaster for our region, which has grave consequences for the environment. This is a criminal act the perpetrators of which are concealed by the company representatives," - said president of the Milan Province, Dario Allevi.
       The circumstances of oil and petroleum residual spill from three oil storage tanks of Lombarda Petroli still remain unclear, primarily due to the obvious countering of the company administration not only in identifying the perpetrators of the incident, but also in mitigating the effects of the incident.
       According to the press, on Tuesday Lombarda Petroli staff for a long time was disallowing the representatives of the Police, Civil Defense Agency, forest service and financial guard to enter the territory of the enterprise. Furthermore, they apparently tried to understate the amount of the oil discharged into the river, saying that the amount was about 2.5 thousand cubic meters.
       According to the police, the dangerous incident at Lombarda Petroli was expressly intentional. In any case, the one who had dumped such amount of oil into the river fully well knew the design of the machines and the mechanisms of the enterprise.
       About for twenty four hours Civil Defense officers and firefighters are trying unsuccessfully to prevent the ingress of oil and petroleum residual into the river Po. However, the multi-kilometer oil slick has overcome nearly all the barriers and about the noon local time (14.00 Moscow time) leaked in the Po waters.
       According to the eyewitnesses, the emergency has already killed many wild ducks and drakes, and it is possible that the consequences of this incident to the ecosystem of this region of Italy will become real catastrophe.

       Channel: Eco.rian.ru

       February 16, 2010

       On the territory of the Amur region, only 16% of the organizations, possessing oil reserves, have developed and put into Oil Spill Response Plans (OSR Plan). The regional authorities express deep concern on the lack of emergency response team (ERT) certified to eliminate the local oil spills.
       As it was noted at the session of the Commission on Emergency Situations and Fire Safety, in late 2009 with the launch of the first phase of the main oil pipeline "Eastern Siberia - Pacific Ocean", the risk of oil and oil products spills in the Amur region has significantly increased. Up to 15 tons of oil will be transported every year by the railroad, which runs on the territory of the Amur region, from Taishet of Irkutsk region to the endpoint of the pipeline in special sea oil port in Kozmino. During the period of pipeline operation, which lasted less than two months, the pipeline has already witnessed two accidents involving oil spills. One of them happened not far from the Amur settlement of Never Skovorodinsky area.
       In accordance with the federal law, the organizations operating hazardous production facilities should develop plans to prevent and eliminate oil spills. In addition, their duties include the establishment of emergency response teams certified in the MES of Russia to conduct rescue and other urgent works when oil spills happen. That is why the representatives of the biggest companies and agencies of the Amur region, such as "Amurnefteproduk " OJSC.
       "Vostoknefteprovod" Ltd., as well as the representatives of Bureiskaya and Zeyskaya hydroelectric stations, Directorate of Zabaikalskaya railway in Chita and Blagoveschensk airport were invited on the session of the regional government. The leaders of organizations have reported to the Commission on the measures taken to protect the territory and population from the effects of possible oil spills.
       It was also reported that the Commission on Emergency Situations and Fire Safety recommended that "Vostoknefteprovod" Ltd. to complete the training, equipping and certification of their own ERT in the shortest time. Until they have not undergone the certification, the company should accept an internal paper on the procedure of localization and cleaning of oil spills at the facilities of the main pipeline.
       In addition to plans developing and ERT establishment, the heads of the organizations were given a number of other instructions. For example, "Trade Port Blagoveshchensk" CJSC was instructed to inspect the technical condition of booms and sorbing materials, as well as to purchase new tools for the collection and disposal of oil from water surface before June 15.
       A number of instructions were concerning the activities of Amur region executives. In particular, it was spelled out in Commission minutes to hold the session of the Commission on this subject at the municipal level in February-March. The Directorate of the MES of Russia for the Amur Region was recommended to lend methodological assistance to the heads of the organizations and the heads of territories. In case of improper performance of normative legal acts, MES may appeal to the prosecution authorities.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       February 15, 2010

       Production lines for processing of hydrocarbon raw materials, industrial waste into useful products, heat and electricity will be constructed in Russia. The corresponding memorandum was signed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Federal Service for Supervision of Nature Resources (Rosprirodnadzor) on the 12th of February, 2010, in Vienna.
       "Being coordinated by UNIDO, the project gained an international status, which will bring advanced technologies to Russia, as well as to work out logistical schemes of their promotion, which in its turn would promote introduction “green industry” ideas in our country", - informed the press service of Rosprirodnadzor.
       It is expected that pilot projects will be worked out under technologies on the base of Russian industrial enterprises. The possibility of attraction of international investments into Russian economy through UNIDO is also considered.
       The signing of the memorandum gives the possibility of "long-term cross-border cooperation in the field of nature conservation". In addition, the signed document will contribute International institute of independent experts and auditors in the field nature supervision and conservation activities in Russia, they consider in Rosprirodnadzor.

       Channel: News.km.ru

       February 12, 2010

       President Dmitry Medvedev mandated to get the petroleum logistics system under control. "I support the idea of bringing order to the petroleum logistics system", - quotes PRIME-TASS the head of the state. Dmitry Medvedev has also called for a "decriminalization of the industry."
       The head of the State agreed that the oil industry makes a substantial contribution to Russia's budget. "But this does not mean that the oil industry should be beyond the control of law enforcement agencies", - he said, explaining that he meant "both technological, and law enforcement control". "Put your proposals" - he demanded.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       February 8, 2010

       From Finnish cargo ship Linda en route from Rotterdam to St. Petersburg three containers have fallen into the water of the Baltic Sea not far from Gotland Island. It is known that one of the sunken containers contained the substance, which has the 9th category of hazard.
       The containers are being searched now. The specialists suggest that the sunken containers are at the depth of 70 meters. The search involved search planes, radars and other facilities.
       At the present time cargo ship Linda is located not far from St. Petersburg.

       February 5, 2010

       According to the materials prepared for the RF Government meeting, Ministry of Transportation of RF will introduce draft regulations at the government session on January, 29 concerning "Amendment to the regulation of the RF Ministry of Transportation" and "Implementation of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage of 2001 ".
       The draft decree "Implementation of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage of 2001 " stipulates the delegation of power to RF Ministry of Transportation concerning working out and adoption of rules on certificate issue of insurance or other financial security of civil liability for damage caused by bunker oil pollution. The project is worked out to implement the commitments of RF under the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage.
       The draft decision "Amendment to the regulation of the RF Ministry of Transportation" suggests to give to RF Ministry of Transportation the power of confirmation of the estimate branch norms in maintenance of roads of federal significance and also of road facilities.
       Granting of power to RF Ministry of Transportation to approve the estimate branch norms will enable the rapid introduction of new modern technical and technological projects in order to improve efficiency of budget funds and the quality of work on maintenance of roads and the road facilities.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       February 1, 2010

       On 26 January 2010, the Ambassador of the Republic of the Fiji Islands deposited his country’s instrument of accession to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (revised Kyoto Convention) with the World Customs Organization.
       The Convention is regarded as a blueprint for effective and modern Customs procedures.
       WCO Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya said, “Accessions to this important Customs instrument are beginning to accelerate as more and more Customs administrations recognize its critical role in managing cross-border trade today”.
       It is recognized as a major trade facilitation instrument. Some of its key elements include the application of simplified Customs procedures in a predictable and transparent environment, the maximum use of information technology, the utilization of risk management, a strong partnership with the trade and other stakeholders, and a readily accessible system of appeals.
       Having entered into force on 3 February 2006, the Convention now has 66 Contracting Parties.

       Channel: Wcoomd.org

       February 5, 2010

       On March 1, 2010 the order (N1691) of the Russian Federal Customs Service (FCS) dated September 15, 2009 will have come into force. The document titled «On the competence of customs authorities to carry out customs operations with goods transported by sea (river) transport" will make substantial adjustments in the work of trading firms importing foreign goods through the sea border checkpoints, Krasnoyarsk customs press service reported.
       The new regulations will not allow the customs personnel to send foreign goods from the seaports to recipient before completion of customs clearance. Now a trader should apply his customs declaration to the customs authority where the port is located.
       There are several exceptions listed in the document: goods intended for personal, family, household and other non-commercial needs; deliverance of certain goods that had been cleared elsewhere or by other authorized agencies, movement of goods by some foreign citizens, listed in paragraph 1 of Article 298 of the Customs Code of Russia, the movement of goods by international mail.
       Also, exceptions are applied in regard of movement of goods to individuals, for whom special simplified procedures of customs clearance was established, movement of goods by residents of industrial-production and technology-innovative special economic zones, movement of military equipment supplied under military-technical cooperation, transportation of live animals; placing goods for temporary storage at the temporary storage warehouse, located in the region of responsible customs office (customs).

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       January 27, 2010

       All ocean container imports into the US are now required to comply with new 10+2 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations.
       Starting yesterday, importers are required to submit 10 data elements, including the manufacturer’s name and address; seller name and address; container stuffing location and the country of origin at least 24 hours before a shipment leaves a foreign port for the US. Carriers are required to submit another two pieces of data. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to US$5,000 per violation, do-not-load orders, or possible seizure of the cargo.
       Shipper group the National Industrial Transportation League (Nitl) and ABS Consulting have entered into an agreement to provide members with an assortment of services at a substantial discount to facilitate their compliance with the new 10+2 requirements.
       Nitl president Bruce Carlton said: "We know a number of small and medium sized ocean importers have yet to test their own capabilities in meeting the new 10+2 requirements. This service will help ensure that their shipments reach their intended customers without undue liability exposure for not complying with the 10+2 rule."
       To enable compliance with the new security filing requirements, the enforcement date had been delayed by 12 months to 26 January 2010.

       Channel: Ifw-net.com

       January 26, 2010

       The number of accidents that occurred on water transport of Russia in 2009 reduced to 97 cases 15.9 percent less than in the previous year. There were 30 emergency situations that came on maritime transport registered recent year, a 36.2% drop, reported Rostransnadzor (the Federal Transport Security Service).
       Rostransnadzor notes that despite a significant reduction in accidents, the objective risks still persist in maritime transport that might lead to serious consequences. The average service life of Russian-flagged ships is 25 years. Major part of the operating fleet has overlapped its ships service life term. 75% of vessels that got into accidents last year, had served more than 25 years.
       Besides, in some cases, inspections proved, the Russian classification authorities lowered its requirements for vessels, especially to those outdated ships.
       There is a significant number of shipping companies operating less than 3 vessels (over 60% of all shipping organizations) in Russia. These organizations are operating, as a rule, the ships far exceeding the time limits of service. These outdated ships still impose a threat as well to employees as to environment. These companies are reluctant adopting international standards of safety of navigation (Rule 21 MARPOL-73/78, Chapter V SOLAS-74 – AIS introduction).
       There also happen to be improper fulfillment of duties by the ports’ services ensuring the safety of navigation (VTS operators, piloting).

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       January 26, 2010

       Northern ecosystems are more sensitive to oil pollution than south ecosystems, was stated in the new study by Norwegian scientists.
       Report was released by NINA - Norwegian Institute for Scientific Research of Nature, the leading research institute of Applied Environmental Research. The report studies if there is any difference between ecosystems of Lofoten and the Barents Sea and ecosystems of southern sea areas of Norway in the degree of vulnerability to oil pollution.
       As the authors of the report write, a number of characteristics are significantly different, especially biodiversity of ecosystems (the north yields the south), the distribution of species and “hot spots” characterized by high productiveness and the accumulation of marine fauna (especially important in the north).
       The report states that the elimination of marine oil spills in icy and distant Arctic is a particularly difficult task. Moreover, the ecosystems of Lofoten and the Barents Sea in some aspects are more vulnerable to oil spills. This is caused mainly by low biological diversity, which is believed to be associated with low viability. Besides, many valuable and sensitive species live there. For example, in Lofotenah and in the Barents Sea there are large colonies of sea birds, and spawning areas of several valuable fish species.
       The report summarizes that in this area there is a conflict between the interests of oil companies and the interests of other enterprises, for example, fishing enterprises, as well as with considerations of preservation.

       Channel: Bellona.ru

       January 25, 2010

       DALLAS—Nearly half the oil that spilled at a major Texas port during a collision between a tanker and a towing vessel has evaporated, dispersed or been recovered from the water.
       About 4,200 barrels of oil have evaporated or dispersed. Some 1,100 barrels—or 10% of the total oil spilled—were recovered.
       About 11,000 barrels of oil spilled when an 800-foot tanker headed for an Exxon Mobil Corp. refinery in Beaumont collided Saturday (January 23) with a vessel pushing two barges. Nobody was hurt. It was the largest spill in Texas in 16 years, but still well shy of one 20 years ago involving Norwegian tanker Mega Borg that leaked more than 100,000 barrels gallons of crude oil about 60 miles off Galveston.
       Two sensitive wildlife areas nearby remain unaffected by the spill, which is mostly contained in a two-mile stretch of the Sabine Neches Waterway near Port Arthur, about 90 miles east of Houston. Authorities have received one report of an oil-covered heron, and residents have been urged to report other affected animals. The shipping channel is closed, and it remains unclear when it will reopen, Petty Officer Ranel said.
       About 500 responders on the water and in the command post worked overnight to contain the spill. Nearly 46,000 feet of plastic walls known as booms and 15 oil-sucking skimmer boats were in the water, he said.
       The Eagle Otome collided with a towing vessel pushing two barges on Saturday, leaving a 15-foot-by-8-foot hole in the tanker. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast Guard are investigating.
       The Eagle Otome is owned by AET Inc., a Malaysian company with offices in Houston. "We have no insight right now into what caused it,'' said AET spokesman Darrell Wilson. ``The Coast Guard has an investigation team in place … and we are fully participating in that investigation process.''
       The company is working with the Coast Guard on cleanup, although it's unclear who will pay for it.
       "It was our product that spilled and right now, we are the ones responsible for cleaning it up," Mr. Wilson said.

       Channel: Europe.wsj.com

       January 25, 2010

       The number of oil spills in the seas in the North-West Russia reduced to 4 reported cases and declined threefold, as compared with incidents that occurred in 2008, RosPrirodNadzor (Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resource Usage) Department of North-West Federal District reports. It was noted, that the results were reached due to control and supervisory activities of the local RPN. It was also reported, that in accordance with the results of marine monitoring in Northwestern Federal District in 2009 (taking into account inspection of ships) 869 inspections were carried out, in 2008 there were 705 inspections. During it’s control and supervisory activities the agency revealed 291 violations, 203 of them were eliminated; 227 violations were revealed and 133 of them were eliminated in 2008.
       In 2009 specialists of marine monitoring department of RosPrirodNadzor (Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resource Usage) Department of North-West Federal District issued 120 orders to rectify the violation, 75 of them were fulfilled. At least 304 individuals and legal persons responsible for violations have been brought to account, the regional Rosprirodnadzor said.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       January 20, 2010

       Chief Directorate of the MES of Russia for Sakha (Yakutia), during it’s on-call duty shift, has been informed that in the daytime on January 20 security service of Lenskiy Regional Oil Pipeline Management (RNU) of “Vostoknefteprovod” Ltd. during patrolling of the oil pipeline “Eastern Siberia - Pacific Ocean” (ESPO) oil leakage was found. Oil slick was detected on the surface of the ground on the 1,351st km of the linear section of the pipeline (30 km from Lensk). As it turned out, during the repair between stop valve stations, planned work on swaying of the pipeline was being carried out. When oil was being discharged into a specially made pit, the pipe involved into the pumping transfer ruptured. As a result about 450 cubic meters of oil spilled on the ground. Contamination of soil and snow covered the area of 20.000 square meters, the depth of the oil slick varies from 2 to 10 centimeters.
       For carrying out post-accident clean-up, works on gathering of oil products were organized. In agreement with the Ministry of Nature Protection for Sakha (Yakutia) places for disposal of oil products were detected on the territory of Talakanskoe field. All the contaminated soil is being collected and transported by trucks for subsequent disposal by incineration.
       At the present time, environmental prosecutors and Rosprirodnadzor are clarifying the causes and circumstances of the accident.

       Channel: Regnum.ru

       January 20, 2010

       In the course of 2009 during supervisory activity in Yugra (the Khanty-Mansijsk Autonomous District), it was detected that on exploitation of oil pipelines by enterprises of fuel-and-power sector oil spillages were accidents of frequent occurrence. Oftentimes those spillages led to environmental pollution.
       Procuracy of the Autonomous District detected 732 law violations in fuel-and-power sector, 109 instructions to eliminate federal legislation violations were given. In accordance to the results of consideration of the abovementioned instructions, 86 officers were brought to disciplinary responsibility. 55 statements of claim were took to court, 220 proceedings on administrative violations were initiated, 35 notices of protest regarding contrary to law legal acts were brought, 5 warnings regarding impermissibility of law violation were made, 27 criminal cases were initiated, 2 of them were initiated on the basis of elements of crime prescribed by article 247 of Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – violation of rules for handling environmentally hazardous materials and wastes, 25 criminal cases were initiated under article 260 of Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – illegal clear-cutting of forest.

       Channel: Regnum.ru

       19 January 19, 2010

       On the 16th of January, 2010 during inspection of gas pipeline route by OJSC “Mordovgaz” alert crew, gas leakage was found at the underground polyethylene inter-village high-pressure gas pipeline with diameter of 160 mm. Due to the accident the gas supply in four villages of Bolsheberezinskiy region of Mordovia was intercepted more than 12 hours.
       According to preliminary information, the reason of the leakage was a crack on butt-welded joint of the gas pipeline.
       The Committee established at the Volzhsko-Okskiy Directorate of the Rostekhnadzor is occupied with accident investigation. The Committee includes the head of Department for Technological Supervision of the Republic of  Mordovia, M. Gryaznov, assistant head of Department for Technological Supervision, D. Potapov, chief engineer of “Chamzinkamezhraigaz” Directorate of OJSC “Mordovgaz”, S. Lipatov, the head of Production and Technical Department of OJSC “Mordovgaz”, S. Zevaikin, and the head of Architecture, Construction and Housing Maintenance and Utilities Department of Bolsheberezinskiy region Administration, L. Chegodaeva.

       Channel: Gosnadzor.ru

       January 19, 2010

       The Coast Guard will begin clean-up operations aboard the 41-foot abandoned fishing vessel Net Web in the Savannah River in Augusta, Ga., Wednesday.
       Coast Guard pollution investigators from Marine Safety Unit Savannah, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Augusta Riverkeepers conducted an initial assessment and found that a pollution threat existed. A Coast Guard crew will supervise environmental contractors as they remove the remaining pollution aboard the Net Web.
       In its current location, the Net Web is partially submerged, but is not blocking a navigable channel.

       Channel: Piersystem.com

       January 15, 2010

       The US east coast port of Morehead City in North Carolina was shut down and evacuated on Tuesday, after several shipping containers holding highly explosive cargoes were found punctured.
       Officials have been quoted saying the containers were accidentally punctured. According to Morehead City police, at least nine containers were damaged in the accident which is said to have taken place around 9 am local time (1400 GMT) on Tuesday. Police have apparently been persuading residents in the vicinity to stay indoors, and some officials are even recommending that a large part of the entire city be evacuated. “We have found highly explosive material in nine containers at Morehead City Port,” a police official at the city's port division told AFP. “The material was found in an accidental puncture. When they punctured it they realised that it was explosive material,” she added.
       As of Wednesday there has been no official report of injuries, environmental fallout, or how the containers were accidentally punctured. One local media outlet claims the containers were punctured as they were being offloaded. Another local media outlet quoted Morehead City police chief Wes Lail identifying the cargoes to be a chemical used in the production of grenades and detonators. It is understood that the chemical is the same material that was used in the botched Christmas Day bombing of a Northwest airliner en route from Amsterdam to Detroit.
       All operations at the key dry bulk port including vessel cargo loading and discharging have been suspended indefinitely, and as of early Wednesday 4 am local time both port and police officials were still unable to say when normal operations will resume.

       Channel: Portworld.com

       December 21, 2009

       The spill of dark ship fuel (presumably brand IFO-180) was eliminated by the Baltic Basin Emergency and Rescue Management (BBERM, St. Petersburg) December 19, 2009 in the port of St. Petersburg. About 200 liters of petroleum products were collected from the water area.
       The oil spill occurred at the pier of the Marine Station (Vasilevsky Island, St. Petersburg) in the morning on December 18 during bunkering "Varadero" reefer (flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), the technical management of which MurmanskTransFlot company had been carrying out. The fuel spilled out onto the deck of the aircraft, more than 2 tons of fuel turned out to be on the deck, only a small part of the spill fell into the water.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       December 17, 2009

       The Seaport Caucasus was included in the list of Russian seaports, in which the calling of vessels shipping nuclear materials, radioactive substances and products containing them is permitted.
       Appropriate disposal of the Government of Russia came on December 14, 2009.
       the port Caucasus is situated between the Azov and Black Sea from the side of Russia, has the ability to work with river and sea vessels. The port can handle primarily bulk cargo. General cargo, timber, and containers can also be transshipped through the port.

       Channel: Gugok.ru

       December 14, 2009

       Unified system for tracking of containers by means of a satellite is planned to be launched in Europe. According to the message from North-Western Customs Administration, this was announced by customs attach? of Belgian Embassy, Paul Russ, during the meeting with Baltic Customs administration.
       According to Paul Russ, each cargo will have its "smart" printing. It contains data about the product from the exporter, carrier or person responsible for the printing. All the printings will be "tied" to the satellite. With this system it will be possible to have direct contact with the exporter.
       "This project has involved companies carrying tobacco, - says Paul Russ, - access to the data will be opened for all. And if the project proves its value, the creation of such a system would simplify both customs processing, and control over the containers movement.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       December 11, 2009

       The United States Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a hearing on "Transportation Security Challenges Post-9/11” on 2 December 2009.
       Part of the hearing concentrated on 100% scanning of maritime containers bound for the United States and the various challenges regarding implementation of the 100% scanning legislation.
       During the hearing, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Janet Napolitano said “DHS …is compelled to seek the time extensions authorized by law with respect to the scanning provision.”
       According to senior DHS officials, the Department has decided under the current circumstances it will likely provide a probable two-year delay and blanket exemption to the 2012 100% scanning deadline.
       Following the Secretary’s testimony, the Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Rockefeller stated that the Congress must reconsider its mandate that the government scan all ocean containers coming into the United States.
       The World Customs Organization (WCO) discussed the issue at the 62nd Sessions of its Policy Commission this week and will remain constructively engaged with the United States Congress and appropriate executive departments of the Obama Administration on the issue.
       On behalf of its 176 Members, the WCO will continue to advocate a layered risk management based approach as a viable alternative to 100% scanning.
       The 100% scanning legislation mandates all containers destined for the U.S. to be scanned prior to loading at the port of origin by 1 July 2012 (the legislation requires scanning for content as well as radioactive material).

       Channel: Wcoomd.org

       December 11, 2009

       The President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, instructed the Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Kozak, to intensify efforts for solution of the problem on adoption of technical regulations.
       "I have signed the order, which implies the need to abandon the current system and create a special body, which will adopt regulations", - said the head of the state. "We must act firmly, decisively," said Medvedev. He reminded that for the few years, only 10 technical regulations of the required 400 technical regulations were adopted. Furthermore, the decision to adopt a law on the regulations has not led to the result.

       Channel: Fontanka.ru

       2 December 2009

       Former heads of the GosStandart appealed to the President, Dmitry Medvedev, with the proposal to repeal the law "On technical regulation" and revert to the Soviet GOSTs. Open letter to the President was signed by Georgy Kolmogorov, Sergei Bezverkhy and Gennady Voronin. They noted that none of the government programs for development of technical regulations is executed by now, although up to six billion rubles per year are being spent for the development of those instruments.
       GOSTs in Russia were expected to lose the binding nature since 2002, however, during the transition period (period for development of technical regulations) implementation of GOSTs in some cases is still required.
       Now only 11 technical regulations are adopted in Russia. In late November, Dmitry Medvedev complained that the law "On technical regulation" still did not work. The President did not exclude that the repeal of the law or the dissolution of Rostechregulirovanie may be required.

       Channel: Lenta.ru

       19 November 2009

       Transport Minister, Igor Levitin, and the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Kingdom of Sweden, A. Torstensson, signed the Agreement between the Government of Russia and Government of the Kingdom of Sweden on international road transport.
       In accordance with the document, carriage of passengers and goods between the states or in transit through their territories is to be performed with permit issued by the competent authorities for the part of the route that passes through the territory of their state.
       Validity of regular passenger service - 5 years. For each irregular transportation of passengers and for cargo transportation a separate permit is to be issued. Annually the competent authorities of the Parties will exchange mutually agreed number of permit forms for irregular operations.
       By convention, the carriers shall be exempt on a reciprocal basis, from taxes and charges related to the possession or usage of motor vehicles, as well as the usage and maintenance of highways of the other side. In addition, the carriers are exempt from customs duties, taxes and charges on fuel, lubricants, spare parts and tools imported into the territory of the other side.
       In case of breach of the Agreement by the carrier one of the following measures may be taken:
       1) give a warning to the carrier in writing that in case of repeated violations, the previously issued permit will be temporarily or permanently cancelled;
       2) temporarily or permanently cancel the permit previously issued to the carrier;
       3) deny to issue new permits to the carrier.
       To implement the Agreement, the competent authorities of the parties will establish a mixed commission which deals with the interpretation or execution of this Agreement through negotiation and consultations.

       Channel: Mintrans.ru

       18 November 2009

       Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine repassed the law "On accession of Ukraine to the European Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by inland waterways (ADN). The purpose of the adoption of the law is to increase the security of international transportation of dangerous goods by inland waterways, promote environmental protection and development of international trade, facilitate transport operations, etc.
       In particular, the accession of Ukraine to ADN will help to establish uniform standards and requirements for safe transportation of dangerous goods by Ukraine inland waterways and establish a legal framework in this area, bringing it into line with international standards.
       In addition, accession to the Agreement will contribute to performance of commitments by Ukraine under international treaties in force in the field of transportation of dangerous goods, and introduction of European Union standards for safety.
       Adoption of the law will also ensure the full participation of Ukraine in the functioning of the river transport system in Europe (Danube, Rhine, Dnipro), including the Eurasian transport corridor.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       12 November 2009

       On the 12th of November, 2009, at Gutuevskiy Kovsh of Saint-Petersburg Port, when transferring fuel, oil products from bunkering tanker “Vladimir Shumakov” (shipping company “Saturn”, St. Petersburg) spilled into the water.
       According to the company, the place of the spill was surrounded with spill booms by the crew in line with the ship's Plan of Action for Oil Spill Response (OSR). The captain of the ship reported on the accident to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center of St. Petersburg Port in a timely manner. Elimination of the pollution was conducted by forces and means of a specialized organization. 200 liters of oil-and-water mixture were collected.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       3 November 2009

       Authorities for Das Island, Mubarraz, Ruwais and Zirku have advised that a new ballast water reporting form must be submitted by vessels before arriving.
       This form is in line with Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) requirements, and with immediate effect must be completed by all vessels prior to arrival.
       It requires vessels to include a statement confirming that the ship has carried out Ballast Water Management en route, in accordance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) and ROPME Requirements in their pre-arrival questionnaire, ISPS pre-arrival questionnaire and Specific Health declaration. All old forms should be discarded.

       Channel: Portworld.com

       2 November 2009

       Two cargo vessels came into collision on the Yangtze River, Ezhou, Hubei Province, China. As the result of collision one of the vessels which had 100 tons of hydrochloric acid in it’s holds sank.
       According to the official from the Province Administration, the collision happened early in the morning of November 1 due to the strong wind. All members of the crew from the sunken vessel were rescued, no one was hurt.
       After the accident had happened, the specialists measured pH level (concentration of hydrogen ions) three kilometers downstream from the accident scene. The results showed that the pH level was normal and was 7,5 - 8 points.
       According to the representative from the Department of Environmental Protection in Hubei Province, experts have already found the place of the chemical spill and take steps to eliminate the effects of the accident.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       2 November 2009

       NEW ORLEANS — Divers patched a hole in the motor vessel Pac Alkaid Sunday, preventing further spillage of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and enabling the freight ship to successfully transit up the Mississippi River to a shipyard in New Orleans.
       The initial discharge of an estimated 12,000 gallons of bunker oil was caused by a hole in the Pac Alkaid's hull which was approximately five centimeters in diameter and five feet below the waterline. At 2 a.m. Friday while the Pac Alkaid was anchored five miles southeast of Southwest Pass, the vessel's captain notified the Coast Guard that the ship was leaking oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
       O'Brien's Response Management hired divers who patched the hole on Sunday afternoon. The Pac Alkaid then transited up the Mississippi River and arrived at the Perry Street Wharf in New Orleans at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, where it is scheduled to undergo permanent repairs. During its transit, the Pac Alkaid was escorted by the NRC Energy, a response vessel owned by the National Response Corporation, which is 100 feet in length and capable of recovering oil from the water.
       The Coast Guard and O'Brien's Response Management, a private response organization hired by the owners of the Pac Alkaid, formed a Unified Command and worked together to manage the spill response. During the response, the Coast Guard and O'Brien's group conducted a total of seven overflights with helicopters and airplanes from Friday through Sunday to assess the spill . O'Brien's Response Management hired the response vessel Louisiana Responder, a 220-foot vessel owned by the Marine Spill Recovery Corporation, to clean up the spill. The Louisiana Responder's efforts to recover oil were prevented by three-to-five foot waves and a lack of concentrated oil.
       On Friday morning, winds and currents pushed the oil to the northwest, which caused a sheen to wash up against the rocks of the Southwest Pass jetty. Winds and currents pushed the oil towards the southeast, away from the coast on Saturday and Sunday. There have been no reports that the spill has impacted the shoreline since Friday.

       Channel: Piersystem.com

       1 November 2009

       SAN FRANCISCO—Work crews are focusing their efforts on the Alameda shoreline as the cleanup from an oil spill in San Francisco Bay continues.
       Coast Guard officials say 18 vessels have been pressed into service after fuel oil from the Panamanian-flagged Dubai Star leaked into the bay Friday morning.
       On the shore, wildlife experts have picked up at least 30 birds covered with oil from beaches and transferred them to a wildlife recovery center. An unknown number of birds have been found dead.
       As a precaution, the state Department of Fish and Game has suspended fishing and shellfish harvesting between the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the San Mateo Bridge.
       Meanwhile, Coast Guard officials say the Dubai Star will be moved Sunday from its current anchorage to a pier for continued hull cleaning.

       Channel: Mercurynews.com

       28 October 2009

       Russia's system for search and rescue "Nadezhda M" will be widely used for mobile monitoring at sea.
       "Due to the modernization the system provides the possibility of simultaneous use with two subsystems. This space segment of the automatic identification system (AIS) is to provide safety of navigation, and is the system for search and rescue users of personal radio buoys on the territory of Russia ", - said Sergey Perminov, the head of the Federal Space Agency.
       He said that also flight communication equipment designed for the AIS will be installed on the apparatus of the space system "Nadezhda M". Batch production of this additional flight communication equipment is scheduled to begin in 2011, said the head of the Federal Space Agency.
       In the case of an emergency, such as a shipwreck, while rescue operation is being carried out, the AIS system will interact with the system for search and rescue users of personal radio buoys. This will both give information about the fact and the place of the shipwreck, and determinate the coordinates of the crews of ships in distress," said Perminov.
       Production of personal radio buoys is scheduled to begin in 2012-2013.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       24 October 2009

       NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard and other agencies are coordinating efforts to investigate and clean up an oil spill found in the marsh near Port Sulfur High School on Oct. 23, 2009.
       Coast Guard Station Venice received a call from a mariner Friday reporting an oil spill approximately three blocks from Port Sulfur High School. A pollution investigation team from Coast Guard Sector New Orleans responded and discovered approximately 200 gallons of crude oil stretching along approximately 3,000 feet of shoreline. The spill occurred when high tides caused oil to discharge from a hole in an abandoned wellhead.
       An abandoned wells representative from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources will be on scene Monday to assess the wellhead, and to make plans to secure the hole. The Coast Guard and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources are overseeing the clean-up of crude oil from the shoreline. Oil Mop, LLC has been hired to conduct the clean up and is encircling the wellhead with absorbent materials and 3,000 feet of containment boom.
       The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and Louisiana Office of Conservation are also assisting in the response.

       Channel: Piersystem.com

       23 October 2009

       The U.S. Coast Guard late Thursday had not received any reports of oil washing up on the beaches after a tanker dumped 18,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, Petty Officer Renee Aiello said.
       A DC-3 propeller plane sprayed the slick with 1,000 gallons of dispersants, a type of environmentally safe chemical, to break up the oil Wednesday. Coast Guard crews checking the spill Thursday reported the slick appeared to be breaking up, Aiello said.
       However, a Coast Guard crew flying to Corpus Christi noticed what seemed to be fuel oil floating offshore 11 miles south of Freeport. Crews are investigating the slick and could drop dispersants to break up the oil, Aiello said. The Coast Guard on Wednesday was unable to use its conventional cleanup method — installing a plastic barrier called a “containment boom” — because of high winds and rough seas.
        An 820-foot Liberian-flagged tanker Krymsk dumped the oil in the Gulf 40 miles southeast of Galveston after it collided with the 166-foot offshore supply vessel AET Endeavor. The two had just finished a lightering operation — the transfer of crude oil from one vessel to another.
       Officials with the Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, O’Brien’s Response Management and American Eagle Tankers responded to the spill.

       Channel: Galvnews.com

       14 October 2009

       October 8, the Transport Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin and the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Lithuania Rasa Jukneviciene signed an agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on cooperation in preventing the pollution of the Baltic Sea with oil and other harmful substances.
       The Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania based on the fact that the exploration, development and extraction of natural resources, as well as their shipping present a potential danger, because it could cause pollution of the Baltic Sea with oil and other harmful substances. The parties agreed to take immediate and effective measures to organize and coordinate actions aimed at pollution prevention.
       In accordance with the agreement the parties will assist each other in fighting against polluting incidents that may affect the zones of responsibility of States Parties, regardless of where such incidents may occur.
       The parties intend to exchange information and hold consultations with the view of ensuring adequate cooperation between the competent authorities. Moreover the parties reached the agreement to hold joint exercises and exchange of experience in responding to pollution incidents.

       Channel: Mintrans.ru

       3 September 2009

       Russia will inform Finland of the results of an environmental examination of the Russian segment of the Nord Stream project, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Finnish counterpart Matti Vanhanen on Tuesday. “In addition to the available information, the Finnish premier asked for results of the environmental examination of the pipeline segment to go through Russian territorial waters. The information will be provided,” Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told the media.Putin and Vanhanen devoted much attention to the Nord Stream project, Peskov said.
       Vanhanen said earlier the Nord Stream consortium would have to obtain three Finnish permissions for laying the pipeline to Europe, including the permission to neutralize 31 old mines on the Baltic Sea bed, the Finnish State Council’s permission to use the Finnish economic zone that would be considered this September-October, and the permission from Finnish environmental authorities. Finnish Ecology Minister Paula Lehtomaki said in St. Petersburg earlier that Finland would complete the environmental report on Nord Stream by early July. The Nord Stream pipeline will deliver up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas to over 25 million homes. The new pipeline is bound to be an important factor of European energy security. There are no transit states in the Nord Stream route, which will reduce possible political risks. Gazprom said it was doing its best to ensure environmental safety of the project.
       Nord Stream with the length of 1,220 kilometers will be laid from Russia’s Vyborg to Germany’s Greifswald across the Baltic Sea bed. The first line with the annual rated capacity of 27.5 billion cubic meters may be commissioned in 2011. The pipeline will go through economic zones of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The transboundary report was approved on February 13, 2009, and consultations with the public of nine countries that may be influenced by the pipeline started in March. At present, public hearings are being held in Germany, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The Nord Stream consortium hopes to get the remaining permissions by the end of this year, and to start building the pipeline in the first quarter of 2010.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       31 August 2009

       The Federal Customs Service prepared amendments to the Custom Code of the Russian Federation about the compulsory preliminary informing of imported and exported goods, RZD-Partner refers to www.global-port.ru.
       Now the electronic information about the cargo will be received by the customs stations not later than one hour prior to the goods and transport’s arrival.
       In case of non-providing the compulsory preliminary information the goods will be subject to immediate removal from the customs stations of the Russian Federation. If there is not a possibility of removing the goods will be placed into temporary warehouses at the expense of the cargo carriers. Storage time limit will be seventy-two hours.
       At this moment using the preliminary customs informing system is not compulsory, for not all customs stations are upgraded with the necessary equipment.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       15 July 2009

       RF Transport Ministry published the List of amendments to International IMO Conventions, which come into force in 2009. The document is made available on the Ministry official website: http://www.mintrans.ru/pressa/Zakon_MRT/Popravki_2009.htm
       Let us recall, that IMO Committee will audit Russian ports’ state structures and private companies to check conformity with norms and requirements of international conventions, codes and other IMO standards. As “PortNews” informed, IMO team to audit Russian ports will be headed by a representative of Denmark maritime administration. According to Vitaly Klyuev, deputy Director of the Department for State Policy in Maritime and River Transport (RF Transport Ministry), the team will consist of four persons.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       13 July 2009

       Russia is ready to participate in Voluntary IMO Member State Audit, think the participants of the Round Table meeting “RF getting ready to participate in Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme” held on July 10 in St. Petersburg. Vitaly Klyuev, deputy Director of the Department for State Policy in Maritime and River Transport (RF Transport Ministry) delivered the keynote speech.
       In autumn 2009, IMO Committee will audit Russian ports’ state structures and private companies to check conformity with norms and requirements of international conventions, codes and other IMO standards. Aleksei Klyavin, Director of the Department for State Policy in Maritime and River Transport, RF Transport Ministry, told about the inspection, which is to be held from September 25 till October 7, 2009, at the last meeting of the Maritime Board under RF Government. At the Round Table meeting representatives of the Department and other state authorities and related unions answered the questions of the event participants as regards preparedness of Russian ports for IMO audit.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       13 July 2009

       Emergency workers have localized an oil spill in Russia's Volga River using floating barriers, a local emergencies ministry spokesman said on Monday according to RIA Novosti.
       About two tons of fuel leaked from the Saratov-registered Belskaya-75 tanker into the Volga near the town of Oktyabrsk in the Samara Region on Monday morning. The tanker's remaining oil is currently being pumped to another vessel. The oil slick, which is 12 km long, 35 m wide and 4 mm thick, is being monitored by helicopter. The operation involves 47 emergencies officers and 15 vehicles.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       13 July 2009

       IMO team to audit Russian ports will be headed by a representative of Denmark maritime administration, Vitaly Klyuev, deputy Director of the Department for State Policy in Maritime and River Transport (RF Transport Ministry) told at the Round Table meeting “RF getting ready to participate in Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme” held on July 10 in St. Petersburg. According to him, the team will consist of four persons.
       In autumn 2009, IMO Committee will audit Russian ports’ state structures and private companies to check conformity with norms and requirements of international conventions, codes and other IMO standards. Aleksei Klyavin, Director of the Department for State Policy in Maritime and River Transport, RF Transport Ministry, told about the inspection, which is to be held from September 25 till October 7, 2009, at the last meeting of the Maritime Board under RF Government. At the Round Table meeting representatives of the Department and other state authorities and related unions answered the questions of the event participants as regards preparedness of Russian ports for IMO audit.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       10 July 2009

       July 9, 2009, RM Minister of Transport and Communications Igor Levitin approved the Concept for reforming management system of Russia’s IWW by the order №112, the Ministry informs. The order also approves the terms of the Concept implementation: Stage I - (preparatory) – 2009-2011; Stage II – reform – 2012-2015.
       The Department of State Policy in the field of Maritime and River Transport (headed by Aleksei Klyavin) jointly with the Federal Agency of Sea and River Transport (headed by Aleksandr Davydenko) are ordered to develop the plan of activities on the Concept implementation and to submit the plan for approval of interested federal executive authorities till July 20, 2009.
       Sergei Aristov, Deputy Transportation Minister of the Russian Federation, is to supervise the order implementation.
       Apart from this, the reform is to facilitate the completion of institutional reforming of the industry and its state management system as well as integration with the system of European economic ties and implementation of Russia’s transit potential within the framework of international transport corridors.
       RF Transport Ministry believes that the measures aimed at reforming of IWW management system will help in solving key problems of IWW maintenance and river ports operation as well as form a foundation for further branch development.
       By 2015, inland waterways are to transport up to 180 million tons of cargo and river ports are to handle up to 300 million tons of cargo and service up to 28 million passengers per year.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       6 July 2009

       Russia runs a great risk when transporting uranium raw materials and wastes by the Baltic Sea. This is stated in the report by "EKOperestroika" and "Ekozaschita!" organizations, spreaded in connection with the incident with dry cargo ship "Kapitan Lus", owned by "Northern Shipping" JSC (SMP).
       "Let us recall, that dry cargo "Kapitan Lus" with displacement of 4618 tons, owned by Northern Shipping Company (Arkhangelsk), got a hole in the result of clashing with the Norwegian tanker "Sundstraum" on the 3rd of July in Oresund strait between Denmark and Sweden.
       According to ecologists, 182 tons of uranium cargo on board of the dry cargo ship were marked as UN2912, "radioactive material, low specific activity". This UN marking commonly used for identification of the uranium ore concentrate (U3O8).
       In addition to the transportation of uranium ore to Europe, the vessel delivers hazardous radioactive and toxic wastes - dump uranium hexafluoride - to Russia. "The environmental organizations "EKOperestroika" and "Ekozaschita!" demand to stop transportation of uranium raw materials and wastes by the Baltic Sea. Taking into account vulnerability of the Baltic ecosystems, countries of the region should sign a general convention that prohibits any nuclear transportations by the Baltic Sea ", - was emphasized in the report.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       6 July 2009

       According to the international studies (Michel et al., 2005), currently there are more than 8500 identified wrecks of sunken ships and boats. More than 1500 of them are tankers with gross tonnage of 150 or more gross tons, and about 7000 others with a capacity of 400 or more gross tons. Up to 20 million tons of oil and petroleum products, hazardous substances and materials could be on board of the sunken ships. Oil products and other harmful substances are constantly leaking from the sunken ships. Other wrecks are delayed action mines and may turn into eco- catastrophe any moment. The most part of these wrecks we derived from the times of the Second World War.
       For a long time ecologists have been calling interested countries to take necessary rescue operations for recovery of such vessels or to neutralize threats of their cargoes. The problem is very serious. It is being discussed both by the interested countries, and on state-by-state basis.

       Channel: Odin.tc

       6 July 2009

       On July 3, the State Duma of the Russian Federation passed the law "On accession to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail" (COTIF) of May 9, 1980 as modified on June 3, 1999", Russia's lower house of parliament states at its website.
       The Convention contains regulations different from the RF legislation when it comes to parties' relations and their responsibility for cargo loss or damage. The decision on Russia's accession to COTIF should be made in the form of the federal law according to sub-clause "а" of clause 1 article 21 of the Federal Law on international agreements of the Russian Federation.
       The Convention on international railway transportation was signed in Bern on May 9, 1980. It is aimed to simplify international railway transportation including that, which involves maritime transport. As of today, the Convention was signed by 43 countries including those of the European Union, Asia and Africa.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       2 July 2009

       The Baltic Pipeline System (BTS)-2, designed to pump oil from western Russia's Bryansk Region to the Leningrad Region, will start operating in late 2011, a Russian deputy prime minister said on Wednesday according to RIA Novosti.
       With pipeline construction in full swing, there are also plans to construct an 18-meter deep canal at northwest Russia's Leningrad Region port of Ust-Luga to enable it to accept tankers with a capacity of 300,000 metric tons and transship large batches of oil toward European and other consumers, Ivanov said.
       "The completion of the project will save us from being at the mercy of the whims of oil transit countries, and diversify our oil supplies," the official said.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       29 June 2009

       Primorsk Shipping Corporation (PRISCO group of companies) delivered new tanker "Zaliv Aniva" on Hyundai Heavy Industries Offshore, South Korea. This vessel was the last in the series of six aframax tankers.
       As differentiated from her predecessors, this vessel and the previous one have bow loading machines, which allow them to make oil transportation from offshore terminals. Tanker with 244 meters length and 42 meters width will be able to transport under 103 thousand tons of oil in one voyage. Two other vessels from this series - "Zaliv Baikal" and "Zaliv Vostok", which have full painted cargo tanks will be able to transport not only oil, but also light oil products.
       All vessels of the series have double hulls and 1 C Ice Reinforcement according Det Norske Veritas (DNV) classification, which allow them to work in freezing seas conditions.

       Channel: Setcorp.ru

       28 June 2009

       As there are more and more cargo ships, tankers, and ferries plying the waters of the Baltic Sea every year, the number of accidents at sea has gone up again, especially in such a busy traffic area like the Danish Straits, according to the latest HELCOM study.
       Analysis of the data contained in the latest annual reports provided by the Member States to HELCOM reveals that overall there occurred 135 ship accidents in the Baltic marine area in 2008, which is 15 more than the year before (12.5% increase) and 18 more than in 2006 (15% increase). "The rising number of accidents could be explained by a 20% increase in ship traffic between 2006 and 2008," says Monika Stankiewicz, Professional Secretary for maritime and response to oil accidents issues at HELCOM.
       The most common type was grounding accounting for almost a half of all reported cases (60 accidents or 44%). Collisions became the second most frequent type of shipping accidents in the Baltic - 41 cases (30%), compared to 40 cases (33%) in the previous year.
       According to the 2000-2008 data, 7% of the reported accidents ended up with some kind of pollution. In 2008, this percentage was the same, with nine out of the total 135 reported accidents resulting in pollution.

       Channel: Netharbour.ru

       23 June 2009

       Off the Vietnam coast near the place, where Nhat Thuan tanker owned by Vietnam-Russia Vietsovpetro Company sank, oil spot more than 1.8 kilometers long and 80 meters wide was found, informs "Maritime Bulletin Sovfracht". The spot is spreading.
       The tanker sank on the 17th of June offshore Vung Tau Province after 3 explosions. Rescue forces are still searching for the three lost sailors, but those crew members who survived consider that the lost sailors died in the accident.
       Vietsovpetro declared that it would take responsibility and accordingly, losses, only in case if it turned out that some part of load survived in the tanks of ship, and exactly it spread on a surface exterminating. Explaining its position Vietsovpetro says that at the time of the accident, the tanker was hired by other company.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       22 May 2009

       The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Shipping Federation (ISF) held their Annual Meetings in London, from 18-20 May, at the invitation of the UK Chamber of Shipping. The representatives of national shipowners' associations, from the membership of 40 countries, discussed a number of important issues of concern to this major global industry. The meetings coincided with the Centenary of ISF (the principal international maritime employers' organisation for shipowners) which held its first meeting in London, in May 1909.
       ICS reiterated its commitment to helping governments at the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) deliver a package of proposals for reducing the global shipping industry's CO2 emissions, for consideration by the UNFCCC climate change Conference in December 2009.
       ICS has prepared a detailed analysis of the net environmental benefits and commercial implications of the various economic measures that have been proposed by governments as possible means of encouraging emission reductions. This paper will be considered at the crucial meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee in July.
       National shipowners' associations endorsed an ICS campaign to encourage governments to ratify the new Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly last year. It will be formally signed by governments at a ceremony in the Netherlands in September 2009, and will then be known as the 'Rotterdam Rules'.

       Channel: Hellenicshippingnews.com

       20 May 2009

       The Federal Customs Service (FCS) of the Russian Federation introduced a draft regulation of the Government providing limits on container transportations from EU through international motor vehicle border checkpoints for consideration by authorities, they said in the Customs Press Service.
       "It is planned to redistribute traffic streams to sea and railway directions. This is necessary to start operating of Russian ports on the Baltic", - they explained in the FCS having specified that this draft regulation of the Government was prepared in pursuance of order of the Russian Government given in the beginning of November of 2008.
       At the present moment discharging of cars, replacement parts and other commodity items takes place in ports of Finland, and then these goods go through international motor vehicle border checkpoints to Russia. Adoption of this regulation of the Government may result in the situation when it will be recommended to the participants of foreign economic activities to discharge and go through customs clearance procedures in Russian ports. Besides, introduction of limits on container import transportations from EU through motor vehicle border checkpoints may increase loading of "Russian Railways" JSC.

       Channel: Gudok.ru

       15 May 2009

       Cargo turnover in sea ports of Russia for 4 months of 2009 increased by 5,1 % to 151,5 million tons in comparison with the same period of 2008. Cargo turnover increased due to increasing of bulk liquids transshipment volume on 12,4 % to 94,1 million tons, press release of the Association of Commercial Seaports reads.
       At the same time the volume of dry cargo transshipment came down on 5,1 % to 57,4 million tons in comparison with the same period of 2008. Transshipment of chemical fertilizers is keeping coming down on 35, 1% (-1,4 million tons), containers transshipment decreasing is almost 40% (-478,3 thousand TEU), timber cargo transshipment decreasing is almost 50 % (-1,8 million tons), general cargos decreasing is 23,4 % (-4,4 million tons).
       Increasing of coal transshipment on 7,4 % (+1,3 million tons), ore mineral transshipment almost 1,5-fold (+0,8 million tons), ferry cargo transshipment on 14,1 % (+0,3 million tons) was noted.

       Channel: Portnews.ru

       12 May 2009

       Economy crisis on the market leads to the situation when record-breaking amount of aged container carriers were written-off for scrap. During 4 months 52 cellular carriers with total capacity of 91000 TEU were written-off for scrap.
       We can expect that this year the volume of vessels written-off for scrap will exceed 200000 TEU. At the present time 511 vessels with the total capacity of 1.31 million TEU stay out of work. One month ago there were 486 vessels of the same capacity of 1.31 million TEU. 10.3% of the world container carrier fleet lies up. The part of vessels to lie up owned by non-operators is increasing, as operators do not prolong charters after its termination and return vessels to the owners. 305 vessels with the total capacity of 478000 TEU fall on non-operator owners. This is 36.6% of the whole amount of lie up vessels.

       Channel: Odin.tc

       8 May 2009

       During loading on "REDO" tanker (Russia flag, port of registration Rostov-On-Don), which belongs to Azov Trans Terminal Ltd. and was standing at berth N26А of "Novorossiysk Commercial Seaport" JSC, oil residual overspill through opened neck of the right cargo tank N2 happened, and oil residual partly spilled overboard, State Maritime Rescue Service of Russia informed today.
       The volume of oil residual spilled overboard is being clarified. Oil-spill booms were erected on the place of the spill by "Tigran Martirosyan" motor vessel. "NMS-11" and "NMS-29" worked at the place of the spill. The head of salvage and rescue operations is Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resource Usage (Rosprirodnadzor). Rosprirodnadzor and operational investigative group of Novorossiysk Line Department of Internal Affairs for Transport are carrying out investigation.

       Channel: Gudok.ru

       8 May 2009

       The volumes of container turnover in the largest ports of the USA in March of 2009 amounted 984,633 thousand TEU. The rates of container turnover in March are 16,8% higher than in February (842,882 thousand TEU), but 15% less than in March of 2008. This was noted in Port Tracker report, which is being monthly published by National Retail Federation and IHS Global Insight.
       In accordance with the forecasting, container turnover in May 2009 will reach 1,06 million TEU (-19% in comparison with the same period of 2008), in June - 1,09 million TEU (-16%), in July - 1,12% million TEU (-15%), in August - 1,15 million TEU (-15,8%), in September - 1,13 million TEU (-17%).
       Also, in accordance with the forecasting, container turnover in the first half-year of 2009 will reach 6,1 million TEU. This is 19% less than rates of the first half-year of 2008 (7,5 million TEU).
       The total container turnover in the largest ports of the USA in 2008 reached 15,2 million TEU. This is 7,9% less than the rates of 2007 (16,5 million TEU).
       Recall that Port Tracker report shows data from ports of LA, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, Tacoma on the US West Coast and New York, New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the US East Coast, and Houston on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

       Channel: Gudok.ru

       6 May 2009

       Accidental oil-contaminated water spill clean-up operations at Ekhabi oil field "RN - Sakhalinmorneftegaz" JSC (subsidiary enterprise of "Rosneft" Oil Company) are being carried out in insufficient rates, they consider in Sakhalin Interdistrict Environmental Prosecutor's Office. As Press Service of Sakhalin region Prosecutor's Office informed, the representatives of Environmental Prosecutor's Office inspected the scene of an accident in the end of April.
       "Accidental oil-contaminated water spill clean-up operations are being carried out in insufficient rates. In this regard the proposal on rectifying violations discovered and activation of operations on curing breaches was submitted to the management of "RN - Sakhalinmorneftegaz" JSC", - quotes "Interfax" the message from the Prosecutor's Office.
       Recall that in the end of April of 2009 the ecologists informed on the large oil spill at Ekhabi oil field "RN - Sakhalinmorneftegaz" JSC. Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resource Usage (Rosprirodnadzor) field committee established that on the 31st of January of 2009 the oil pipeline (with diameter of 114 mm) of reservoir РВС N4, РВС N5 of "Ekhabi" oil and water treatment unit "Ekhabi" was damaged. This resulted in the spill of oil-contaminated water. The calculated volume of oil spilled into the water was about 200 kg.
       Earlier Rosprirodnadzor spread information, that "RN - Sakhalinmorneftegaz" JSC tried to leave a fact of oil spill unrelated. This can entail liability in the form of administrative punishment or punishment under criminal law.

       Portnews.ru

       6 May 2009

       The European Parliament has tightened seas and oceans pollution control measures. This decision was taken in the evening of the 5th of May on the plenary sessions of the European Parliament in Strasburg.
       The text approved by extraordinary majority of members of the European Parliament now does not rank facts of pollution as the category of administrative violations. The most serious violations and repeat violations now fall under the category of criminal offence. This text also refers to those persons, who had earlier been accused in nonthreatening pollutants discharge and repeated the law violation.

       Channel: Gudok.ru

       29 April 2009

       By 2015 the total investment volume for implementation of program for developing railway containers transportations by Trans Siberian line will amount to 11 billion rubles, informed "Russian Railways" OJSC Press Service.
       Within the framework of this program, Russian Railways is going to realize "Trans Siberian line for 7 days" project. This means that it would be possible to pass the distance from ports of Far East to western Russian borders in 7 days. At the present time it takes 11 days.
       It will create competitive conditions for attracting Euro-Asian goods flows to railway transportation.
       In accordance with the approved schedule within the framework of the program, the average speed of container trains on Trans Siberian line is to be 1,1 thousand km/day with maximum speed of 80 km/hour in 2009, 1,4 thousand km/day with maximum speed of 90 km/hour in 2010-2012, and 1,5 thousand km/day with maximum speed of 100 km/hour in 2015.
       Today the speed of cargo delivery in container trains exceeds 900 km/day.
       This project will attract additional volume of transportation due to attracting Asian-Pacific Region goods flows to railway transportation. At the present time goods from Asian-Pacific Region go mostly by sea to Europe.
       In accordance with Russia Railways calculations, to join land Russian route with mass goods transportation from Asia to Europe, the period of delivery should not exceed 7 days, and the cost should not exceed the cost of transportation by sea more than $ 1 thousand.
       In 2009 the package of measures for spreading "Trans Siberian line for 7 days" technology to other directions of railways of the company will be prepared.
       As the result of this program implementation, incomings from additional volume of transportation will amount 9 billion rubles by 2015.
       Payback period will be nearly 10 years.
       The total macroeconomical effect from the realization of the Program for Development of Railway Container Transportation by Trans Siberian Line will be formed of at the expense of increased tax proceeds to state budget (in accordance with Russia Railways calculations, in 2015 tax proceeds will amount 3,6 billion rubles annually).
       The increase of GDP volume due to effect of the program being realized is supposed to amount to 18,7 billion rubles in 2015. Taking into account production of railway vehicles and materials for modernization of railways, GDP will amount to more than 37 billion rubles.

       Channel: Morvesti.ru

       South-Korean shipping company Hyundai Merchant Marine is going to launch sms-service for their clients. This sms-service will inform consignors on location of their cargoes. The system will be sending messages during the whole process starting from the moment of loading on board ship to the moment of delivery of cargo to the importer.
       Before this innovation consignors used to receive such information by phone or fax, but this took a long time.

       Channel: PortNews.ru

       Finland container operator Containerships put into operation two new container lines, which connect Helsinki and Gothenburg with Russia, the Baltics, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Eastern-Mediterranean states. Now the company can offer straight lines in delivery of containers to Saint-Petersburg, Helsinki, Klaipeda, Riga, Gdansk and Rotterdam, as well as to ports of Eastern-Mediterranean - Salerno, Piraeus, Istanbul, Izmir and Tunis.
       Containerships, a leading Finnish container short-line, is a "door-to-door" short sea carrier providing regular services linking key industrial and retail customers in Finland, Russia, Scandinavia, the Baltic States, Poland and Western Europe via ports in the Baltic, the North Sea and the UK areas. Containerships operates 16 vessels ranging between 250 and 1,000 TEU capacity and a fleet of 14,000 own containers.

       Channel: PortNews.ru

       Two fire-fighting trains pull duty at the place of the accident on the hump yard of Shushary railway station in Pushkin district near Saint-Petersburg. As the result of that accident not less than 15 tons of petroleum spilled on the ground, informed transport prosecutor's office. As they said in city office of Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Response, during maneuvering of freight rolling stock 5 wagons run off the track. One of those wagons was tank carrying petroleum. The tank flipped over this resulted leakage. The other tank with diesel fuel did not run off the track, but was split, and that also lead to the leakage of the contents. The square of oil products leakage was 3 thousand square meters.
       Two repair-and-recovery trains, two fire-fighting trains and oil products pumping station were occupied on the place of the accident.
       Lines were laid from fire-fighting trains, and be means of fire nozzles "Purga-5" the surface of the spill was covered with foam. By means of motor pump the spilled oil products were pumped out from the separating trench.
       All the 5 wagons were put back: 3 of them were put on rail-track and sent to dirt collector, the other 2 wagons, including the tank with the rest of petroleum, were loaded on platforms and transported to safety places. To prevent the threat of explosion, foam was pumped into the tank.
       By 9:00 p.m. the damage caused by an accident was eliminated. Two fire-fighting trains occupied in liquidation of the accident consequences stayed to pull duty for one more day.
       As Business News Agency mentioned before, north-west transport prosecutor's office is trying to find out accident causes.

       Channel: Business News Agency

       The sentence passed on chief operating officer and the Head of ammonia compressor section of "Maslosyrbaza "Chuvashskaya" convicted of violation of job safety rules came into force in Cheboksary. They were charged with the commission of the crime envisaged by article 143.
       Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of job safety rules), the Senior Assistant of the Head of Investigation Department, RF Prosecutor's Office, Chuvashia Branch, Oleg Dmitriev informed REGNUM.
       It was found that September 2, 2008 during the planned washing-out and sanitation of equipment in ice cream production section, malfunction in operating of one ice-cream freezing machine. The repair of the machine was carried out with violation of standards and rules regulating such works, including violation of job safety rules and safety measures. As the result of these violations at 13:25 (1:25 p.m.) the internal cylinder of the ice-cream freezing machine kept under pressure of ammonia was tore out, and vapour-liquid ammonia emission had happened. Six persons of the staff were injured; two of them were seriously injured: one became blind and the other suffered burns on 20% of his body.
       The judgment of court of judicial district №3 of Kalininskiy district of Cheboksary for chief operating officer and the Head of ammonia compressor section of "Maslosyrbaza "Chuvashskaya" was to put them on probation for a year.

       Channel: REGNUM

       Accident with contamination of water main happened in 1990, when toxic chemicals - phenol and dioxins - became apparent in water-supply system of the capital of Bashkiria, Ufa, may happen again. This was said on the 8th of April to the correspondent of IA REGNUM by the engineer of service production of "Ufaorgsintez" JSC, Azat Galimardanov.
       "In accordance to the analysis of ground waters near large pit, where in May of 2008 dangerous manufacturing wastes were disposed, and a number of environmental standards were violated. Excess of maximum allowable concentration of phenol is more than 25,000-fold, - informed Galimardanov. - We do not know where phenol goes then, as no necessary damage assessments are being carried out. Administration is trying to leave the fact unrelated and prohibits prevention of spilling phenol into the river. When I detected these violations, I was twice admonished and suspend from work"
       According to Galimardanov, on days off 300 tons of phenol-bearing wastes were disposed during capital repairs at "Ufaorgsintez" JSC, straight into the ground. Then the pit with dangerous wastes was covered in, he said. "Phenol can not be just covered in. It is to be utilized, - resented environmental engineer. - As a matter of fact, this was a criminal action. I'm sure that very soon, together with melting water phenol will come into Firsov stream (it is situated in 70 meters from the pit and 50 meters lower vertically) and to Shugurovka River. From this river contaminated waters will stream into Ufimka and then to municipal water intake. That is why probability of phenol accident in Ufa is possible".
       According to Galimardanov, 57 "Kamaz" trucks of contaminated ground were removed from the place where dangerous wastes were disposed. "In spite of this, amount of phenol in this pit is too great, - said Galimardanov. - Environmental citizenships of Bashkiria do not respond to my calls, public prosecutions department did not do anything, but drew up an administrative protocol for penalty at the rate of 30 thousand rubles. This means that you can dispose any amount of phenol into the ground, and all you will have to do is just to pay a little penalty. But upon this fact the public committee was established, and now it is investigating this case".
       In Ministry of Ecology of Bashkiria they said that do not know anything about ecological disaster at "Ufaorgsintez" JSC, as this enterprise has federal status and it is not within republican ministry jurisdiction.
       Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation from Bashkiria, Irshat Fakhritdinov, commenting this situation, considered it to be outrageous. "The previous owners of plants knew that they will sell their plants and that is why they began to poison people with this dirtiness without compunction, - resented the parliamentarian. - I'll do my best to make those, who responsible for exceeding phenol level 25,000-fold, were subjected to the maximum punishment for their criminal actions". Let us recall that on the 30th of March "Sistema" JSFC signed purchase agreements with "Agidel-Invest" JSC, "Ural-Invest" JSC, "Inzer-Invest" JSC and "Yuruzan-Invest" JSC on purchasing of controlling interest of "Ufaorgsintez" JSC (complete with five more enterprises of BashTEK), and this way ownership interest of "Sistema" JSFC reached 73,02%.
       The most serious phenol accident happened in Ufa in 1990, when great amount of phenol from "Himprom" JSC enterprise (enterprise is shutdown) became apparent in South municipal water intake. Water from tapping cock could be used only as service water. To get drinking water citizens had to stand in a queue to water carriers. Thousands of citizens took part in protest demonstrations against ecological disaster.

       Channel: REGNUM

       On the 3rd of April on Stocznia Szczecinska Nowa shipyard in Szczecin (Poland) the first container ship FESCO DIOMID of B-178 series was integrated into FESCO fleet. "Far East Shipping Company" JSC will own and operate this ship. As FESCO press centre informed, FESCO DIOMID is the largest container ship of "FESCO" JSC.
       Deadweight of the ship is 42 thousand tons. The container ship is able to take on board.
       3081 TEU, 450 ones may be placed on the deck; there are 200 sockets for refrigerated containers. The maximum sizes of the vessel are 220, 5 m lengthwise and 32, 2 m widthwise; main propulsion power is 26.270 kW makes it possible for the ship to keep service speed of 21 knots.
       The ship is equipped with advanced systems of electronic cartography, which does not require presence of paper maps. The crew consists of 17 persons.
       It is planned that FESCO DIOMID will go to charter of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Co). In the nearest future the container ship will go to Valencia (Spain) and then unmoor to ports of China. In the future, after stable cargo traffic resuming, the ship is supposed to be used on FESCO lines, which connect ports of China, Korea, Japan and Far East of Russia.

       Channel: PortNews.ru

       Somali pirates seized Maersk Alabama, Danish container ship, which was freighted by one American company, was United States-flagged ship and was keeping in touch with the Pentagon, informed "Gudok" with reference to Associated Press agency.
       As informed Kenyan representative of MFA, the crew of the ship seizes in 644 kilometers to the west from Mogadishu fully consisted of American sailors.
       In accordance to Lt. Nathan Christensen, a Fifth Fleet spokesman, Maersk Danish Company is one of the U.S. Department of Defense's primary shipping contractors, and Maersk Alabama is under a Pentagon contract.
       Andrew Mwangura, the Head of the Kenya-based "East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme" said that no one of the crew members was injured.
       Let us note that the seized on the 4th of April Maersk Alabama was the first-ever container ship seized by Somali pirates. German MV Hansa Stavanger with container capacity 1270 TEU was forwarded by pirates to Kharadere port, which is situated 400 km to the north from Mogadishu, the capital of Somali. The container ship belongs to German Leonardt&Blumberg Reederei (Hamburg).

       Channel: PortNews.ru

       The representatives of the Federation Council and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, representatives of federal executive bodies, as well as representatives of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, enterprises and public organizations of inland water transport took part at that meeting.
       Opening the meeting, Transport Minister noted that inland water transport as distinct from other industries where reforming has been already executed or where reforming is being executed, has not been reformatted for a long time. Volume of budget financing was not enough. The industry was not attractive as a private industry. The tariff system is not effective, and this makes water transport less competitive in comparison with other means of transport. The mentioned facts demonstrate necessity of carrying out reforms. According to Transport Minister, this problem is planned to be considered by the end of May on the Russian Federation Government session.
       The report on conception for reforming of Russian inland waterways control system was read by the Head of Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport, Aleksandr Davydenko.
       The participants of the meeting backed the represented project of Conception for reforming of Russian inland waterways control system. Following the results of the discussion, it was decided to refine the project of Conception taking into account suggestions made on the meeting. In particular, attention was paid to the necessity of elaboration for financial and economic justification of the reform, as well as elaboration of property relations matters and review of system of levies on GDP.

       Channel: the official web-site of Transport Ministry of Russia www.mintrans.ru

       The draft bill "On introduction of changes into article 27 of the Federal Law "On Remedy of Legal Persons and Self-Employed Entrepreneurs when executing government control (supervision) and municipal control" was brought in State Duma on the 8th of April. The law draftsman, chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy and Business, Evgeniy Fedorov, said: "This draft bill is another step of the State Duma and the Government collaboration in Turnaround Programme intended to reduce administrative barriers for business enterprises, to reduce number of control and supervision inspections from government and municipal authorities, to develop small and medium business, to encourage and involve of active people into business.
       In accordance with the suggestion of the Chairman of the Government, V.V. Putin, which was announced on the 6th of April at the State Duma, the draft bill was brought in the Parliament. Adoption of this draft bill will advance the date of coming provisions of the mentioned Federal Law into force. As the result, the law will come in force two months earlier, on the 1st of May, 2009, but not on the 1st of July, 2009 as in was planned before.
       Since the 1st of May, 2009 no inspection body would be entitled to inspect entrepreneurs more often than once a year, and only one body will check compliance to the requirements.
       Inspection bodies will execute mainly documentary inspections, which are not burdensome for entrepreneurs and don't divert them from their business. The total period of one inspection should not exceed 20 working days. The period of carrying out an inspection should not exceed 50 hours for small enterprises and 15 hours for micro-enterprises per annum.
       The results of inspection carried out by a government body with gross violation (established by law) of the Federal Law will not be considered as evidences of violations by entrepreneurs.
       General Prosecutor will form integrated schedule of inspections. After this each entrepreneur will be able to study the information on the General Prosecutor's web-site.
       Russian business is looking forward to coming of this draft bill into force; its realization is on the front burner in the period of financial crisis to keep social and economical stability in the society. State Duma is ready to adopt amendments to this law as soon as possible".

       Public Affairs and Media Relations Office
       Channel: the official web-site of State Duma of the Russian Federation www.duma.gov.ru

       April 4, nine wagons of freight train run off the track in Sverdlovskaya region, no one injured, informed RIA News the head Press-Service of Main Administration of the Interior of the region, Vasiliy Gorelykh.
       "The train was following from Tumenskaya region to Ekaterinburg. Nine wagons run off the track near Tugulym", - said Gorelykh.
       According to his words, seven wagons loaded with ironstone capsized and two wagons, including tank with oil products, run off the track, but did not capsize.
       Urgent liquidation of accident consequences was organized; traffic of trains was not interrupted.

       Ecologists require declaring public hearings on the project of Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) oil pipeline system branching invalid for the reason that, as they say, they were not allowed to visit these hearings. Relevant letters were directed to prosecution authorities, Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resource Usage (Rosprirodnadzor) and Russian Federal Service for Ecological, Technical and Atomic Supervision (Rostekhnadzor), informed RIA News the representative of Ecology Watch at North Caucasus, Andrei Rudomakha.
       Public hearings on the project "Oil pipeline system of Caspian pipeline consortium. Subsea pipeline and single mooring point" were organized by the administration of Novorossiyskiy district of Novorossiysk in Glebovka township of Krasnodar Territory. Ecologists say that the project of CPC branching may cause ecocatastrophe on the Black Sea.
       Ecologists directed letters to Azov-Black Sea environmental prosecutor's office, Rosprirodnadzor of Krasnodar Territory, North Caucasian administration of Rostekhnadzor with requirement to declare the hearings invalid.
       "When we came to the public hearings, in the lobby of Glebovka Recreation Centre we noticed a lot of people, who were forbidden to enter. There were representatives of social organization "Green" from Novorossiysk, inhabitants of Novorossiysk, Anapa and Gelenjik in the lobby. The entrance into the Recreation Centre was blocked by police", - said Rudomakha.
       "We were told that at that moment the registration was being carried out and that some time later we would be allowed to enter. When the registration was finished, we were told that there were no chairs and we were offered to go to another room to take chairs. We ran to another room to take chairs, but when we returned with chairs we were not allowed to enter as well, and then the hearings finished. So the chairs did not come in useful", - said the interlocutor.
       "It was the first time we met with such a disorder. Interested public was bereaved a chance to take part in public hearings, which were an official event carried out especially for the interested public. Moreover, CPC project is not a local project", - underlined Rudomakha.
       The managers say that they obeyed all the procedural items of the hearings. Two representatives from ecology organizations were registered as spokesmen from ecologists at the hearings, but eleventh-hour they left the hearings. The ecologists were late, and there were no places. Moreover, there were too many representatives from ecologists, we could not allow the whole crowd enter the auditorium, they should have come earlier to do so. Inhabitants from Glebovka and Vasilievka presented at the hearings", - informed RIA News the head of Novorossiyskiy district of Novorossiysk Administration, Vasiliy Chumakov.
       Oil pipeline system of the consortium is intended to transport Kazakhstan and Russian oil to the terminal situated on the Black Sea. Capacity of the system is 30 million tons per annum. Realization of the project "Oil pipeline system of Caspian pipeline consortium. Subsea pipeline and single mooring point" is a part of the process intended to branch CPC and to reach capacity of oil transfer through the Black Sea of 67 million tons per annum. Russia controls 24% of CPC.

       In South West Pakistan near Afghan boundary bodies of at least 62 migrants were found in freight container, informed Associated Press Agency with reference to police.
       In accordance with words of one of the heads of city police, Rasool Bakhsh, people, who tried to cross the boundary, asphyxiated in metal container, which was transported from Afghanistan and was supposed to be conveyed to Iran. When police, which was operating on a tip, opened the container, there were about one hundred people, the most part of them were the Afghans. As Bakhsh said, judge by the smell from the container, some people died several days before.
       Contrabandists often use the territory of South West Pakistan for transportation of people, who want to escape from pauper districts of Afghanistan and Pakistan trying to find job and good conditions of life in Europe and other regions.

       April 5, seven wagons run off the track at Shushary railway station near Saint-Petersburg; this caused spill of fuel. As they informed in Head Department of Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in Saint-Petersburg, an accident alarm entered at 12:35 a.m. (Moscow Time). There was diesel fuel and petrol in two of the seven wagons, which run off the track. The spill POL was liquidated by fighters of fire fighting service of the city. The cause of the accident and volume of damage will be determined later.
       

       The Procuracy initiated investigation upon unauthorized discharge of oil from oil pipeline "Kyrtael - crude oil delivery and acceptance point Chikshino" in the Komi Republic in February 2009, informs Investigating Committee under the jurisdiction of the Procuracy of the Russian Federation. It was found that the volume of the discharge of oil-contaminated water was 3, 7 thousand cu.m. and that the discharge drained into trenches ditched along the pipeline. The discharge was executed at the direction of unidentified persons from the management of "LUKOIL-Komi" JSC. This created actual threat of contamination of water bodies and, as a consequence, threat of overkill of fish resources, including salmon spawning fish species recorded in the Red Book of Russia. Criminal investigation is going on.

       Terms of container terminal first turn running on the territory of Ust-Luga port may be corrected. Director General of "Ust-Luga Company" JSC, Maxim Shirokov, informed of this fact at press briefing. In accordance with his words, initially it was planned to run it in the 3rd quarter of 2009. But because of general decreasing of container cargo turnover not only in Russian ports, but also in foreign ports, "the matter relating to the terms of running may be revised".
       "We will be able to inform of more specific terms later. But nevertheless, this year, as it was planned earlier, new equipment will be delivered to the container terminal", - added M. Shirokov. Let us recall that Construction Management Company of container transfer complex construction in Ust-Luga port is "Baltic Container Terminal" JSC (is a member of National Container Company (NCC)). At the present time land reclamation and construction of 2 berths of the first turn is completed, construction of infrastructure facilities is being executed. The declared full capacity of the container terminal is 3 million of TEUs per annum. It is planned to reach the level of the declared cargo turnover by 2016. "Ust-Luga Company" JSC was found in 1992 for project execution on construction of new commercial seaport in Lugskaya Bay in Gulf of Finland, which would accommodate dry-cargo vessels with deadweight to 75 thousand tons and would let handle liquid cargo vessels with deadweight to 120 thousand tons.

       Industrial group "Phosphorite" (Leningrad region) refused to conduct an independent examination of waste production. This was said in the message distributed by the environmental movement "Green Wave".
       According to the ecologists, quartz sand being offal of phosphate falls under the 3rd class of hazard and it is being delivered to building sites of Leningrad region.
       As it was noted in the message, the enterprise justified the refusal the Rospotrebnadzor examination, which was currently being held on the factory. The ecologists consider the reason of the refusal to be "far-fetched".
       Note that the Industrial group "Phosphorite" is a part of the mineral and chemical company "EuroChem". The company specializes in the manufacture of phosphoric fertilizers and feed phosphates, as well as sulfuric acid and phosphoric acids for its own production. Last year EuroChem spent 1, 5 billion rubles for modernization of "Phosphorite".

       On 28th of March "Kamaz" truck carrying sulfuric acid flipped over on Chita-Bagdarin auto track in Bauntovskiy region of Buryatia. In the result of the tank rupture, the acid spilled on the square of 12, 5 sq. m, there were no injuries.
       Due to the frozen ground, the acid did not leak into the soil. 12 tons of neutralizers: lime, Ammonium carbon salts - were delivered by rescue workers to the place of leakage.
       The acid was collected by a special vehicle.

       The ecological assessment of the project on creating storage facility for temporary storage of radiation materials in Ust-Luga sea port is completed.
       As confirmed the representatives of "Green Cross" ecological movement, who took part in carrying out the assessment of the project, the building of storage facility was found worthwhile, all the necessary materials have been already sent to project organizations, environment inspection authority and municipalities of the town.
       According to the ecologists, the storage facility for temporary storage will consist of a warehouse and a laboratory building. From that place enriched uranium hexafluoride will be transported to Europe as raw material for production of fuel material for nuclear power plants.
       "Up to now radiation materials are being transited to Saint-Petersburg seaport through populous districts of the city. It is not possible to put off transportations outside the region yet. Transit through the special port and transportation of cargoes through relatively unpopulated area will reduce the risk to its minimum", the ecologists say.

       Ecological requirements have been developed for Sochi transport by Rosprirodnadzor. These rules are intended to reduce air pollution and noise emission during preparing for and carrying out of the XXII Winter Olympic games in 2014, the Press-Service of the Department informs
       "With the aim of reducing of negative impact of motor-vehicle transport on the environment in the context of increasing of motor-vehicle transport number and rate of traffic flow, Rosprirodnadzor offers to introduce eight new ecological requirements into the instruction", - was said in the message.
       These requirements of Rosprirodnadzor include necessity to provide high traffic capacity of roads network, which is under construction, to increase traffic capacity of the existing traffic network. Besides, it was offered to build bypass highways for freight traffic, to provide federal and secondary roads with up-to-date conservation engineering.
       The supervisor also offers to introduce technology for reduction of waste products volume during construction, reconstruction, repair and maintenance of highways, to use constructions, which allow reducing erosion and dust generation, as well as design solutions for preventing rupture of natural landscapes.
       According to Rosprirodnadzor, "the process of land parceling for building wastes and domestic wastes is to be indissolubly related to the general scheme of cleaning of Sochi for providing "no wastes" approach".

       An intergovernmental agreement between Russia and China on cooperation in the energy sector including organization of supplying of this state with Russian oil, as well as including "Rosneft" and "Transneft" credits, is planned to be signed within the nearest week, said Deputy Prime-Minister of Russia, Igor Sechin.
       In accordance with his words, after signing of the agreement "Rosneft" and "Transneft" will be able to receive first loan tranches, which will be given by Chinese party under this agreement.
       "First of all the intergovernmental agreement should be signed and after its signing we can expect the transfer of loan tranches", - said Sechin having noted that signing of the agreement may be expected "within the nearest week or two".
       Earlier Sechin had informed that Chinese party would accommodate with a loan "Rosneft" and "Transneft" against security of oil supply and building of pipeline providing this supply.

       In the commercial seaport of Novorossijsk one of the biggest containers in the world - "Zim Ecokhama" of Panamax class - was discharged. It was the first time during the period of functioning of that container terminal, when it took vessel with deadweight of 50000 tons from Israeli container line ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, informed Head of Container Cargo Handling Department, Michael Zhoglo.
       In accordance with his words, operators of the terminal hesitated until the last moment and were not sure that the giant vessel would be successful in mooring. Then the most difficult task was to discharge the vessel.
       Taking into account sizes of the container vessel, which has length of 260 meters, two container terminal wharfs number 18 and number 19 were operating simultaneously. The discharge of the container vessel was carried out in accordance with tried and tested procedure of transshipment meeting requirements of all up-to-date standards for handling of containers with use of recently built buffer territory.
       Entering the port by the vessel means the start of direct line services from China to Novosibirsk, said General Manager of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services in Russia and CIS, Itshak Hemi.

       Accident rate of water transport declined by 32, 5% in 2008 (169 accidents happened in 2007 and 114 accidents happened in 2008). The number of injured persons has also decreased: from 20 persons in 2007 to 2 persons in 2008 on the sea transport; from 8 persons in 2007 to 0 persons in 2008 on the river transport. The number of persons, who died in accidents, also decreased from 27 persons in 2007 to 1 person in 2008. This was reported by Aleksandr Davydenko, the Head of Federal Agency for Marine & River Transport (Rosmorrechflot), on the extended session of the agency, Russian Ministry of Transport Press-Service informs.
       According to Davydenko, the accident rate decreased due to organizational and technical measures taken after the tragedy of 11 November, 2007 in the Kerchenskiy channel and intended to increase shipping safety. Besides, draft enactment of safety control system for the water transport is developed and is being coordinated at the Russian Ministry of Transport.
       "However the achieved levels of safety could be much more considerable if the ship owners and the community organizations consolidating them were more active in coordination of their internal safety standards with the international standards. A number of shipping companies got behind in adaptation of their fleet to international requirements, - underlined he in his report.

       In contrast to two previous sets of Erica series laws, which introduced only partial responsibility, the new provisions prescribe responsibility to the whole chain from the owner of the cargoes transported to the ship owner and the management company. According to the adopted provisions, beginning from 2011 all the vessels entering ports of the European Union or lying at anchor in the coastal waters of the European Union are to be inspected. Vessels declared to be not meeting the requirements of the safety standards may be forever forbidden to enter ports of the European Union.
       Safety inspections of ships will also be held in all civil fleets of the EU Member States. During the inspection checks due attention will be paid to a number of countries, which give their flag of convenience to different countries without proper inspections and then do not control these vessels.
       According to the new laws, the owners of particularly large tonnage vessels would be obliged to conclude insurance agreements providing compensation for damages in case of an accident. Such insurance agreements are to be concluded not later than the end of 2016. In the absence of such agreements, vessels will be withdrawn from a port, and other states will be informed on this fact.
       Independent organizations will be established in all the states to ensure the withdrawal of vessels in distress to special ports as well as to initiate the procedure for emergency assistance. The law also introduces regulations for carrying out accident investigations.
       But the law, in contrast to what the developers planned, has considerably limited the amount of money compensation to be paid to individuals and to juristic persons, who were harmed because of contamination caused by an accident in the sea or in the port. This law does not oblige the European Union states to join all the existing international agreements in the area of providing safety on the sea.

       The Senate of Kazakhstan endorsed the bill "On ratification of the agreement between Government of Kazakhstan and Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of sea transport" at plenary meeting.
       Therefore the document is considered to be adopted by the parliament in the whole and as the bill is to be directed to the head of state for signature.
       This agreement was signed in Novosibirsk, October, 4, 2007.
       The document provides full and effective operating of sea fleet and ports of both states, as well as well as safety at sea, including safety of ships, crew members, goods and passengers.
       The agreement also has a purpose to enhance marine environment protection, as well as to provide acceptance of ship's documents issued by authorized bodies of these states. Such documents are seafarer's identity card or passport.

       State Duma at the second reading passed the bill on carriage of dangerous cargoes. The changes will be introduced in article 4 of the law "On State Control Over International Road Carriage and Concerning Liability for Violation of the Procedures Governing Such Carriage".
       It is fixed by the law that international road transportation of dangerous goods, which by the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) fall under the group of heightened danger goods, is to be executed in accordance with special permits.

       Tariffs for cargo carriage by all the means of transport in the RF in January, 2009, up at the average 10,6% in comparison with December, 2008, informed Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat).
       Among them, railway transportation tariffs up 4,8%, vehicular transportation up 0,7%, pipeline transportation up 17,9%.
       As it was reported, tariffs for cargo carriage for 2008 up 41,4% in comparison with 2007. Among them, for the year railway transportation tariffs up 22,1%, vehicular transportation up 18,8%, pipeline transportation up 66,1%.

       The agreement between Russia and Lithuania on shipping in Kurshskiy Gulf and waterways in Kaliningrad Region "fully promotes our national and, accordingly, economic interests",- the Chairman of the Government of the RF, Vladimir Putin said.
       The Agreement was signed in December, 2007 at the session of Lithuanian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for trade-and-economic, scientific-and-technical, humanitarian and cultural cooperation.
       Putin noted that this agreement under consideration will give Russian vessels free navigation on inland waters of Lithuania and Lithuanian vessels will gain the right of navigation on waterways of Kaliningrad Region.

       The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, opened the first meeting of a Working Group charged with considering modalities for operational coordination and information-sharing, the possible establishment of a regional coordination centre and regional capability development, in the context of on-going efforts by navies to protect international shipping from acts of piracy and armed robbery in the waters off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.
       Set up by the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) - itself established in January 2009 following the adoption of United Nations Security Council resolution 1851 on 16 December 2008 - the Working Group has been convened and coordinated by the United Kingdom and was chaired by Mr. Chris Holtby of the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
       The Working Group was meeting at IMO Headquarters in London (24 to 25 February 2009) and was followed by the first meeting of another CGPCS Working Group (26 to 27 February 2009), convened and coordinated by the United States of America, which will address the strengthening of shipping's self-awareness and other capabilities. It will be chaired by Mr. Jeff Lantz of the United States Coast Guard.

       APL Eastern Russia Express opened a container line of communication between Pusan port (South Korea) and Vostochnyi port (Primorsky Krai) on the container terminal "East Stevedoring Company" Ltd. (ESC is a member of Global Ports Investments Ltd.), as ESC press service informed.
       APL became the first world ocean carrier, which launched independent service on the Far East of Russia, - was noted in the message. Vessels will enter the ESC terminal every week.
       At the present moment seven shipping lines are functioning on the container terminal ESC: FESCO Container Sevices Co. Ltd, Sinokor Merchant Marine Co. Ltd., CK Line Co. Ltd., Korea Marine Transport Company, Pan Continental Shipping Ltd., FESCO Lines Vladivostok и APL Eastern Russia Express.
       According to ESC Director General, John Scurtis, who was quoted in the message, the coming of one of the world biggest linear operator to the container market of the Far East is an important event both for ESC and for the regional market in whole.
       "East Stevedoring Company" Ltd. is the largest container terminal on the Far East of Russia, it works on the territory of Vostochnyi port. 25% of ownership capital of the company belong to the international port operator DPW, and 75% belong to Global Ports Investments Ltd. (is a member of "N-Trans" group of companies).
       Global Ports Investments Ltd. is one of the biggest container terminal operators in Russia.
       Global Ports was created by "N-Trans" group of companies by means of consolidation of terminal assets of the group for the further development of port business.
       Global Ports Investments group includes terminals on the Baltic and Far East - "Petrolesport", "Moby Dik", "East Stevedoring Company", "Maluti-Link, Helsinki", "Maluti-Link, Kotka", Vopak E.O.S., "Yanino" logistics park, and five internal terminals in Finland and Poland.

       England will become the site of disassembling of toxic vessels for scrap after the ecologists gave the permission for disassembling of much talked-of French aircraft-carrier Le Clemenceau, which first was sent to India, then to Turkey and Greece, where the aircraft-carrier was sent back from. Disassemblers of these countries were unauthorized to accept the aircraft-carrier because of presence of toxic materials aboard.
       Finally, worries of the written-off aircraft-carrier will come to the end. A special dock was constructed in Hartlepool, Teaside for disassembling of toxic vessels for scrap. For a long time war crafts of many countries used to be sent for disassembling for scrap to India or to Bangladesh, but now there is an alternative - England. In 2003 USA sent 4 vessels for disassembling to England, but the disassembling was forbidden by the ecologists. And finally Englishmen being tired of all this mess and scandals decided to construct special safety dock for disassembling of such vessels and crafts, all the more so it is moneymaker. Englishmen will receive 9 million pounds for Le Clemenceau. Not less than 200 persons will be occupied in disassembling, it is planned to disassemble up to 30 vessels per annum on the dock. By 2015 not less than 200 units of monohull tankers are planned to be written-off. On the whole, the world market on disassembling of vessels for scrap is estimated at 3 billion pounds. The most part of the written-off vessels are relatively safe and do not have any toxic materials aboard, but there are enough vessels, which are being refused from on the world main disassembling sites situated in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, China. The topic in its own right is disassembling for scarp of war vessels (including the price), and that means that disassembling dock in England will not be in dry dock or low in pocket.

       Transport prosecution of the N.W. region detected serious problems during execution of customs inspection in Saint-Petersburg. First deputy transport prosecutor of the N.W. region, Igor Zaytsev, informed on this at the session of collegium of the department. "Waiting line to custom supervision of containers exceeds two hundred. Supervisions are being carried out on the 5th-7th day", - said Zaytsev, as prosecution press service informs.
       On the whole, according to his words, measures taken in 2008 on strengthening of supervision of customs regulations execution allowed to detect more than 2 thousand of law violations in customs authorities. With the aim of rectifying of these law violations, transport prosecutors entered more than 295 representations, in accordance with results of consideration of which 84 persons were brought to disciplinary liability, 54 persons were brought to financial liability; 138 notes of protest were brought; 328 actions were brought to trial courts of general jurisdiction and arbitration courts; 35 officials were cautioned against law violations, 66 persons were brought to disciplinary liability by prosecutor's decision, 11 criminal cases were opened on materials forwarded by prosecutor.

       On January, 1st, 2009, part 3.2, article 19 of Federal law dated the 20th of December, 2004, № 166-ФЗ "Federal Law on Fisheries and Preservation of Aquatic Biological Resources" (as amended by Federal law dated the 6th of December, 2007, № 333-ФЗ) came into force. In accordance with this law, aquatic biological resources obtained (fished out) during commercial fisheries in internal sea waters of the Russian Federation, in territorial waters of the Russian Federation, on the continental shelf of the Russian Federation, in EEZ of the Russian Federation, and products produced from these (here and after - Production) are subject to delivery to customs area of the Russian Federation.
       It is established by Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) that more than 80% of aquatic biological resources hauls from the mentioned areas are planned to be exported directly from sea ports without ship-to-shore discharge.
       With the aim of maximum cutting of time on veterinary documents execution, including the full procedure of export license execution, which takes up to 45 days, lowering of excessive administrative barriers in world trade, and due to the fact that the mentioned production does not fall within jurisdiction of veterinary medicine regulatory bodies of constituent of the Russian Federation, managers of territorial administrations of Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) must provide execution of veterinary accompanying documents when exporting of aquatic biological resources and products produced from these, landing of which on the Russian shore (customs surveillance zone) is not being executed, at the petition of exporter-companies to territorial administration of Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) from the region of responsibility of which it is supposed to make export supplies (customs surveillance zone in sea ports).
       With that, territorial administrations of Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) till further notice without export license by Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) execute veterinary health certificates on the base of such petition and information from regional database on safety indicators of aquatic biological resources, on the base of results of laboratory investigations carried out in 2007-2008 on the certain region of harvesting (haul), in respect of different types of aquatic biological resources on terms provided by the decree of Government of the Russian Federation № 184 dated 03/19/2008.
       Take immediate actions on certification and including transport ships, which would execute delivery of production to destination country, into the List (provided by the order of Justice Department of the Russia № 453 dated 10/06/2008, registration in Justice Department of the Russia №12636 dated 11/13/2008). Bring the mentioned information to veterinary medicine regulatory bodies of constituent of the Russian Federation, representatives of fisheries industry in the region of responsibility, other interested business units, departments and executive authorities.

       Administration of large shipping companies "CMA CGM" and "China Shipping" decided to forward one of joint lines on container shipment, Asia-Europe, eastward, by-passing Suez Canal, by Africa, which is dangerous with its pirate attacks. "Sea journal Sovfreight" reports today: "The companies decided to forward ships, going from Europe to Asia, passing Africa, to the east on 8-weeks period".
       "In the near future the decision on the final choice of the route and the decision on possible diversion of ships going westward will be taken", - informs the journal. Analyzing that decision specialists consider two reasons, which influenced on taking of this decision: fear of pirates and desire to wear off sequences of crisis in linear sector.
       "More and more often container ships are being attacked, and if pirates capture linear ocean container ship, it would be difficult to imagine financial consequences", - notes "Sea journal Sovfreight".
       One of the world largest companies on container shipment, Danish company "Maersk Line", became the first company, which forwarded its ships of AE7 line by-passing Africa last week", reminds the journal.

       Russian Federation and Denmark agreed to consider the question on the starting of execution of pilot project on facilitation of customs procedures during customs processing of container shipping in Saint-Petersburg seaport for some of Russian and Danish companies. Press service of the Department of Transportation informs, that the agreement was reached during the meeting of co-chairmen of Intergovernmental Russian-Danish Council on the Economic Cooperation - Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin and State Secretary, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Ulrik Federspilja. Which companies in particular are spoken of is not specified.
       Besides, sides agreed to continue expert consultations on studying of Danish experience on development of infrastructure and using of this experience in development of special economical port zones (SEPZ) in Russia.
       During the meeting Levitin informed, that Russian Federation government approved model intergovernmental contract on assistance to cooperation within implementation of Kyoto Protocol. In case if Danish side takes an interest, Russian experts are ready to open negotiations immediately. In reply to this Federspil said, that Denmark intends to develop cooperation with Russia on this item actively. The following session of Intergovernmental Russian-Danish Council on the Economic Cooperation will be held in the latter part of 2009 in Copenhagen.

       As they informed in industry and transport department of Primorski Krai, boundaries of water areas and territories of Vostochniy seaport are approved in Russian Federation government.
       At this moment projects on boundaries of water areas and territories of Nakhodka seaport and Vladivostok seaport are getting through conformance. Territories of all business units, which are situated in ports and on adjacent territory, were included into the boundaries of ports. The final boundaries of ports are planned to be approved in the second quarter of 2009.
       Works on approval of sea boundaries is being carried out within the federal law dated 8 November, 2007, № 261-Federal Law "On sea ports in the Russian Federation and entering in certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation".

       11 February, 2009, the conference on "Transport law as an instrument of Transport policy of the Russian Federation implementation till 2030", which was held with the assistance of Transportation Ministry of the Russian Federation and newspaper "Transport of Russia", took place in Moscow (President Hotel). The aim of the conference is consideration of existing legal base in transport area, finding of existing and possible problems, as well as ways of its solving, first of all with the purpose of Transport policy of the RF implementation till 2030. The representatives of Transportation Ministry of the RF, Federal agencies and services, State Duma of the RF, professional legal advisers at law and representatives of business working in transport area and in transport infrastructure, were invited to take part in the conference.

       Delegations of 65 states and 25 international organizations took part in the work of the Committee.
       This is the first session carried out after coming into force of amendments to the UN Convention, 1948, on institutionalization of the Facilitation Committee, which in the result gained equal status with all IMO committees and now it's commissioned to make decisions of recommendatory and mandatory nature.
       As the initiatory step in its work, in accordance with article 50 of Convention on the International Maritime Organization, the Committee approved Rules of procedure of the Facilitation Committee.
       It was decided to start work on general revision of the International convention on facilitation of international maritime traffic, 1965, with the purpose of taking new callings into account (ship security, illegal narcotics traffic, illegal migrants, electronic document transfer, etc.) and achieving optimal balance in security protection of shipping and facilitation.
       Explanatory memorandum to International convention on facilitation of international maritime traffic, 1965, which is aimed to away possible difficulties in interpretation and applying of separate standards and recommended practices of the Convention offering explanations of these provisions.
       The Committee prepared final project of the revised IMO Compendium on facilitation and transfer of electronic data and send the document for consideration to the World Customs Organization and United Nations Centre for Facilitation of procedures and practices in Administration, Commerce and Transport.
       The Committee prepared draft resolution of IMO Assembly on appliance and revision of the Guideline on the distribution of responsibilities for the guarantee of successful solution of the matters, connected with the ticketless passengers.
       Also questions on the list of documents are to be on shipboard and on electronic access to these documents, using of one window during formalities in port. The following session of the Committee will take place in London, in 2010.

       Delegations of 67 IMO member-states, one associated member-state and 23 international organizations took part in the work of the Subcommittee.
       Subcommittee prepared the project of IMO guidelines/ International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)/ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on dissemination of marine safety information (MSI), where aspects of developing new NAVAREA areas in the Arctic Region are took into account. It was decided to continue work of joint correspondent group during interim period to study problems of arrangement on transfer of MSI in the context of newly created NAVAREA/METAREA. The Subcommittee prepared and approved publication of Global search and rescue plan (SAR.8/Circ.1/corr.8) on the basis of circular COMSAR/Circ.27. by IMO Secretariat in March, 2009. Also the Subcommittee developed draft circular "Rescue coordination centers (RCCs) communications with priority of "emergency" in the direction ship-shore by means of International Maritime Satellite Telecommunications Organization (INMARSAT)" with the List of appropriate coast earth stations and RCCs.
       Amendments, to the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR Manual) on problems of aeronautical and maritime search and rescue procedures harmonization on the basis of the report by the joint ICAO/IMO correspondent group, were developed.
       Draft circular COMSAR, where the list of limitations for usage of AIS text messages in emergency situations or in case of disaster, is prepared. Manufacturers of AIS facilities are advised to exclude (block) function on transfer of messages, which are related to the security. It was decided to start system review of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) functioning with the aim of its modernization, taking into account the fact, that the main principles of GMDSS were formulated more than 25 years ago. It is supposed that modernization of GMDSS will be concerned with necessity of amendment in chapter IV of the International Convention SOLAS-74 (IC SOLAS).
       Problems in functioning of COSPAS-SARSAT satellite services and INMARSAT, which belong to GMDSS, were discussed. It was confirmed, that the mentioned systems continue successful execution of its guaranties within the framework of GMDSS.
       The Subcommittee considered IMO and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) cooperation issue.
       Decisions of the COMSAR 13 Subcommittee will be considered at the 86th session of IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 86) in June, 2009.

       As noted in the Group Press Service message, Stevedoring companies of Sea Port of Saint Petersburg Group of Companies transferred 11 million tones of cargoes in 2008, that on 8% is less, than in 2007.
       General cargoes (6,5 million tones) and bulk cargoes (4,5 million tones) preponderated in the structure of cargo turnover.
       "First Stevedoring Company" CJSC transferred about 5,1 million tones of cargoes (reduction on 5%), "Second Stevedoring Company" CJSC transferred 1,7 million tones of cargoes (reduction on 16%), "Fourth Stevedoring Company" CJSC transferred 4,1 million tones of cargoes (reduction on 2%), Automobile terminal of "Third Stevedoring Company" for the period of its work, which had been lasting less than 8 months (it started its work on the 6th of May) transferred about 42 thousand of cars.
       Sea Port of Saint Petersburg Group of Companies consists of the management company "Sea Port of Saint Petersburg" OJSC, "First Stevedoring Company" CJSC, "Second Stevedoring Company" CJSC, "Third Stevedoring Company" CJSC, "Fourth Stevedoring Company" CJSC, "Intechport" CJSC and the number of auxiliary cycle enterprises. The main holder of shares of Sea Port of Saint Petersburg Group of Companies Universal Cargo Logistics Holding В.V. and it is subordinated to the main beneficial owner of "Novolipetsk steel" OJSC Vladimir Lisin.

       Last Wednesday (01/28/2009) Majilis (the lower house) of the Parliament of Kazakhstan endorsed the bill "On ratification of the agreement between Government of Kazakhstan and Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in sea transport field" at plenary meeting.
       This agreement was signed 10/04/2007 in Novosibirsk during IV Forum of Boundary Regions of Kazakhstan and Russian Federation.
       As noted in Majilis Press Service message, the agreement ensures providing of full and effective usage of sea fleet and ports of both states, as well as it ensures safety at sea, including safety of ships, crew members, goods and passengers. The agreement also has a purpose to enhance marine environment protection, as well as to ensure intermutual acceptance of ship's documents (seafarer's identity card or passport) issued by authorized bodies of these countries.
       In accordance with law-making procedure, draft bill was directed for the further consideration to the Senate (the upper house) of the Parliament.

       Railway transport of the Russian Federation in December, 2008 had considerably reduced rail loadings on 26,3% in comparison with December, 2007 - to 85,9 million tons of goods. This was noted in materials of Federal State Statistics Service. If the downfall year to year was smoothen by good rates of the first 9 months, then statistics of December to December give evidence of collapse downfall. Entrainment of some goods had been shorten two times.
       Entrainment of charred coal in December had been shorten on 43,8% - to 0,6 million tons, entrainment of ferrous metals had been shorten on 48,4% - to 4,4 million tons. Entrainment of ferrous scrap was less on 63,9%, than in December, 2007.
       Only oil and combined feed managed to keep rates comparable with the level of the last December, but, in spite of this, for these goods downfall was also noted - entrainment of oil in December had fallen in comparison with December, 2007 on 8,7% - to 19 million tons.
       

       Russian Federation government gave directions to open sea ports Vitino in Murmanskaya region and Dudinka in Krasnoyarsk Territory to allow foreign ships to call. According to the information from RIA Novosti, the corresponding order of Russian Federation Government was signed by the Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.