Events
FSUE “Rosmorport” Deputy General Director for Fleet discusses Russian-Finnish sea shipping cooperation
The Russian-Finnish joint commission of sea shipping gathered for the 39th session at the Finnish Foreign Ministry on March 14-15, 2019. Yuri Kostin, director of Russia’s Transport Ministry department for state policy in the field of maritime and river transport, was a co-chairman of the bilateral commission. The Russian delegation also involved representatives of the Russian Transport Ministry, Rosmorrechflot subordinate organizations, FAI “The Russian Registry of Shipping” and the all-Russian industrial association of employers “Russian Chamber of Navigation”.
FSUE “Rosmorport” was represented by Deputy General Director for Fleet Vasily Strugov and head of VTS Saint Petersburg of the North-Western Basin Branch, Sergei Rostopshin.
The Finnish delegation led by deputy director of Finland’s Ministry of Transport and Communications Department Paivi Antikainen included representatives of the ministry and the Finnish Agency for Transport and Communications.
The participants in the meeting discussed Russian-Finnish cooperation in the field of sea shipping in the Artic region. The parties exchanged views on interaction in the sphere of environmental protection of the Baltic Sea within the activity of the International Maritime Organization. In particular, they discussed the implementation of the joint project for harmonizing the fulfilment of the Polar Code, reducing NOX emissions from vessels in the Baltic Sea and controlling the level of fuel sulphur content.
Vasily Strugov gave a report on the composition of the FSUE “Rosmorport” icebreaker fleet, interaction for rendering icebreaker support services in the Baltic Sea under an inter-governmental agreement between the two countries.
Sergei Rostopshin spoke about using the Gulf of Finland Mandatory Reporting System (GOFREP) to ensure navigation safety.
Summing up the results of the commission’s work, both parties noted fruitful cooperation between Russia and Finland to resolve key issues related to developing merchant shipping and protecting the environment. They also outlined a plan on further interaction. The next session of the Russian-Finnish joint commission of sea shipping will be held in Russia in 2020.
