The Baltic Pilot Authorities Commission gathered for a session in St Petersburg on May 31, 2018. The session involved representative of maritime administrations, pilot organizations of the countries-members of BPAC – Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Russia.

At the session Russia was represented by FSBI “The Administration of Seaports of the Baltic Sea”, the FSUE “Rosmorport” North-Western Basin Branch and other officials.

On behalf of FSUE “Rosmorport” the session was attended by Deputy Director for Navigation Safety Andrey Balashov, Deputy Director for Personnel and Administrative Work Alexander Strelnikov, and other employees of the North-Western Basin Branch.

On behalf of the Branch Alexander Strelnikov welcomed all participants in the session and wished them fruitful work. Besides, Alexander Strelnikov also presented a jubilee book from the series “Russian Pilots on Service to the Motherland” to the guests. The book was devoted to the history and the development of the pilot service of the Kronshtadt Port “Pilots of the Crown Service”, which had celebreated its 150^th anniversary.

The participants in the session discussed a wide range of issues related to the implementation of a pilot project on electronic navigation in the Gulf of Finland and to the amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding of the Baltic Pilot Authorities Commission on deep-depth pilotage. Besides, they exchanged views on the changes that had occurred in the sphere of pilot activities of each country at the national level.

Upon completion of the work of the Baltic Pilot Authorities Commission in St Petersburg, its participants will prepare minutes including proposals and recommendations on training of open sea pilots and reports on the results of their work.