Chairmanship of Baltic Icebreaking Management (BIM) transfers from Finland to Russia. According to PortNews IAA reporter, the ceremony was held on Friday at the State Maritime Academy called after Admiral Makarov (St. Petersburg) within the framework of the III International Seminar on implementation of HELCOM action plan in Russian segment of the Baltic Sea.
As it was reported earlier, Harbour Master of the Big Port of St. Petersburg was elected a head of icebreaking operations in Russian part of the Gulf of Finland for two years. The decision was taken in Copenhagen at the meeting of the heads of Baltic states icebreaking authorities.
Baltic Icebreaking Management, BIM, is an organisation with members from all the Baltic Sea states. BIM is a result of the annual meetings of the Baltic states icebreaking authorities which have assembled for more than 20 years. The member countries of BIM are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden. The overall objective of BIM is to ensure a well functioning, year-round maritime transport system in the Baltic Sea through enhancing the strategic and operational cooperation between the Baltic Sea countries in the area of winter navigation assistance.