Transit along Volga-Baltic water way will terminate on November 16, SBA Volgo-Balt told PortNews IAA. According to the authority the navigation was planned to be closed today, on the 15th of November, but actually the locks are to be operated for a day or two more since it is necessary to pass the vessels, the applications of which have already been accepted.
Saint Petersburg bridges will continue to be drawn up till the end of November. It is important for industrial and auxiliary ships as well as for the vessels going along the Neva river to ship-repair yards.
According to preliminary estimations, navigation 2006 result of Volgo-Balt is the following: 5.5 thou vessels (-36% against navigation 2005).
Volgo-Balt (Volga-Baltic waterway) is one of the most significant water routes comprising integrated deep-water system of inland waterways of Russia’s European part. It is a complex of engineering facilities uniting 4900 kilometers of operated waterways including 3270 kilometers with guaranteed dimensions, 11 locks with water lift from 11 to 18 meters, three water-power stations, 25 earth dikes and dams, 12 ferry crossings, 9 bridge crossings, 8 lighthouses in the Ladoga lake, over 5000 signs of navigation situation, 273 units of service fleet.
Volgo-Balt State Basin Authority is a territorial body managing river transport under Transport Ministry of the Russian Federation. Major tasks of Volgo-Balt SBA are maintenance and development of waterways and hydraulic engineering structures; public regulation of river transport activities within the competence of state authorities; activities aimed at navigation, ecological and fire safety; ship-traffic supervisory control and state piloting.