On May 17, 2019 FSUE “Rosmorport” General Director Andrei Lavrishcehv took part in a working trip made by Russian Deputy Transport Minister, head of Rosmorrechflot Yuri Tsvetkov. The trip’s events were devoted to the development of the transportation hub of the Baltic Basin. Within the framework of these events Russian Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov took part in working meetings in St Petersburg.

The deputy premier said that the improvement of transport accessibility of the Northern capital and the region “is a top priority issue”. “We should provide for the comprehensive development of the transportation hub so that freight traffic does not create additional load on the city and so that the infrastructure would be harmonized, including developing new territories,” he said.

Under the program of the trips, discussions dedicated to prospects for the development of the Baltic Basin seaports were held at the Bronka marine transshipment complex located in Big Port St Petersburg.

FSUE “Rosmorport” carries out the activities in seven seaports of the Baltic Basin: Big Port St Petersburg, Primorsk, Vysotsk, Vyborg, Ust Luga, Kaliningrad and Passenger Port St Petersburg. The North-Western Basin Branch provides for functioning of the region’s port complexes and renders comprehensive services to ensure navigation safety in water areas of these seaports.

Based on the results of the year 2018 cargo turnover of Russian seaports of the Baltic Basin amounted to 246 million tons. In the first quarter of 2019 cargo turnover increased by 5% as compared with last year’s figure.

According to estimates of the comprehensive plan for modernizing and expanding the main-line infrastructure, by 2025 the Baltic Basin capacities are expected to grow and make up 53.8 billion tons (plus 15% to the existing port capacities) and amount to 415 million tons. This is the goal of the development. At the same time, if private investors realize declarations of intent, the port capacities in the Baltic region are forced to be increased: they may amount to 117.5 million tons (plus 32.5% to the current level) that will lead to the growth up to the level of 478.9 million tons, the head of Rosmorrechflot said.

FSUE “Rosmorport” takes part in implementing eight projects for developing the port infrastructure of the Baltic Basin, included in the comprehensive plan.

The participants in the meeting stressed the need to synchronize the port projects with the development of the railway infrastructure to its utmost. It is especially important for St Petersburg to develop its transportation hub in the context of the port’s high pressure.