Transit navigation at Volga-Baltic waterway is to start on April 30, 2009, the same date as last year, PortNews IAA learnt from Volgo-Balt State Basin Authority. According to the source, the Neva river will be open for navigation from April 15. As the agency learnt from Yuri Petrov, Director of Mostotrest SUE, the bridges at the Neva are supposed to be prepared for regular drawing by April 10, while actual opening will start as soon as the weather allows.
It should be reminded that 16.11 million tonnes of cargo was transported by Volga-Baltic waterway in 2008.
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. The Authority comprises nine subdivisions: Svir, Vytegorsk and Sheksna districts of hydraulic engineering structures and navigation; Neva-Ladoga, Cherepovets, Novgorod and Gverdeisk districts of waterways and navigation as well as Basin Center.