In 2008, the Port of Kotka showed the second result among the Finnish ports having handled 11.6 million tonnes of cargo. The share of transit and export cargo exceeded 70% of the total throughput. Transshipment of containers amounted to 628,000 TEU, a 10-pct increase against the previous year, while transshipment of transit automobiles reached a record-breaking level in the 5-year period – 442,000 units (+27 %)

Russian railways suffer losses because of a sharpdecline of cargo traffic in 2009. The railway may apply a “band-aid” approach and to undertake another raise of tariffs for freight transportation. The market experts think it will entail redistribution of traffic streams and global revision of logistic schemes

Russia and Finland are getting prepared to sign a new agreement on the lease of the Russian part of the Saimaa Canal to Finland. In this connection a new checkpoint is to be built on the west side of the canal. It will be capable of servicing at least 2 cargo ships and 15 pleasure boats per day. However, future operation of the canal looks quite pessimistic in the present context

Navigation has started at inland waterways of the Russian Federation. The fleet passing the Volga-Baltic waterway contributes to total turnover of vessels and throughput in Big Port of St. Petersburg and increases general growth of Russian export. Artur Gavlyuk, Managing Director of one of Russia’s largest shipping companies - North-Western Shipping Company OJSC - tells about NWSC’s plans for the navigation-2009

In autumn 2009, IMO Committee will audit Russian ports’ state structures and private companies to check conformity with norms and requirements of international conventions, codes and other IMO standards. Aleksei Klyavin, Director of the Department for State Policy in Maritime and River Transport, RF Transport Ministry, told about the inspection, which is to be held from September 25 till October 7, 2009, at the last meeting of the Maritime Board under RF Government. Today he answers the questions of PortNews IAA

Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP Group) intends to considerably increase the number of wagons unloaded per day during this May due to a higher volume of grain, ore, ferrous metal and oil products being delivered to the port and causing an enormous congestion of over 60 trains at the railway approaches

This summer St. Petersburg is to welcome a famous international regatta The Tall Ships’ Races Baltic 2009. Over a hundred sailing ships from different countries will moor at the Lieutenant Shmidt embankment, more than 3,000 foreign crew members will discover our city and the maritime celebration itself will last for four days – from July 11 till July 14

The ports of Flanders (Belgium) are ready for expansion. Total area of free port territories makes 10 mln sq m and they are to be actively developed

In the first quarter of 2009, container throughput of Big Port St.Petersburg fell 1.5 times against January-March 2008 to less than 300,000 TEU. At the same time certain types of cargo tend to containerization

Russia is in full swing preparing to transfer points of cargo customs clearance to the state border. A relevant concept has already been approved by all ministries and agencies and is to be approved by the RF Government in the nearest future. The reform draftsmen mean it is to facilitate the development of the presently depressed border territories, to take part of transport out of metropolises and to expedite customs clearance procedure. Meanwhile, representatives of business and regional authorities are skeptical about extensive plans of the customs representatives and are apprehensive about just the opposite effect