The collegium of the Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport and Rosmorrechflot Public Council gathered for a joint expanded session on March 31, 2017.

The session involved Maksim Sokolov, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, head of Rosmorrechflot Viktor Olersky, FSUE “Rosmorport” Director-General Andrey Tarasenko, representatives of maritime and inland waterway organizations, higher educational institutions and business.

Addressing participants in the meeting Maksim Sokolov noted the successful results of the work of inland waterway transport in 2016. The sector head spoke of the last year's Black Sea Tall Ship Regatta that included 27 sailing ships from five countries. The Khersones sailing ship reconstructed by FSUE “Rosmorport” also participated in the regatta. “Such regattas play an important role in training cadets of maritime colleges. Last year over 8.000 of such specialists were admitted to serve in the navy,” the minister said.

Maksim Sokolov praised the development of the port infrastructure. The capacity gain made up over 30 tons in 2016.

The minister stressed the importance of the first call by the Arctic liquefied natural gas tanker Christophe de Margerie at the Sabetta port in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area. FSUE “Rosmorport” icebreakers, Moskva and Tor, prepared the seaport ice channel for the passage of the LNG tanker. The new diesel-electric icebreaker, Novorossiysk, has become part of the exposition of the Artic forum, “The Arctic Region – Territory of Dialogue” that was held in Arkhangelsk on March 29-30. 

Viktor Olersky gave a report, “On the Results of Maritime and Inland Waterway Work in 2017, the Tasks in 2017 and the Mid-Term Up To 2019”.

The Russian deputy minister proposed to recognize the sector's work in 2016 as satisfactory. He also thanked workers of the sector for their work and wished them new success. The participants in the meeting also listened to and discussed the speeches given by representatives of Rosmorrechflot Public Council, business and the sector's enterprises.