The second international conference, “Present-day Port Fleet is the Basis of Security”, was held in Saint Petersburg on September 18, 2017.

On the eve of the NEVA-2017 exhibition the industry's community discussed the development of the port fleet's services market, the state's measures to support shipbuilding in Russia, the latest achievements in the field of building the tugboat fleet of ice class and other issues.

The events involved representatives of shipping and shipbuilding companies, scientific institutes, the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, the Russian Navigation Chamber and operators of the auxiliary fleet.

Vladimir Shtrambrand, Chief of the FSUE “Rosmorport” Directorate for the Fleet Development and Construction, gave a speech at the conference. He spoke about the possibilities to construct shallow-draft icebreakers with the capacity of 6.4 megawatts for the needs of the institution. Icebreakers of Project 22740 are ready to escort vessels in difficult ice conditions, including in shallow water areas and in embouchures. The innovation propulsion unit, consisting of two side fixed pitch propeller and two screw-rudders with fixed pitch propellers, is their unique particularity. Among the advantages of the project, we can note the high capacity of vessels, ice passability and maneuverability.

In addition, due to the IMO 3 requirements on hazardous substances emissions to the environment that are scheduled to be introduced in 2021 the variant is now considered to build an icebreaker, which uses LNG as fuel. In this case dual fuel engines will give a possibility to use liquified gas as supplementary fuel. In the future discussions are held to a LNG tanker/fuel vessel.

At present, FSUE “Rosmorport” has started building a dredging vessel with the capacity of the hold of 2000 cubic meters at the Onego Shipyard. The project is carried out due to experience on using the Severnaya Dvina dredger and three dredging vessels with the capacity of the hold of 1000 cubic meters that have been constructed at the Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard.

In conclusion, Vladimir Shtrambrand stressed that the construction of the fleet and its maintenance was the FSUE “Rosmorport” priority. Over the last 12 years the fleet has been expanded by accepting more than 70 vessels. Their construction and putting into operation allow to solve priority tasks aimed at supporting the activities of Russian seaports. Among the factors, which affect the creation of attractive conditions for calling at home ports, are the availability of advanced auxiliary fleet, which ensures navigation safety, the increase in commercial attractiveness of seaports and their environmental security.