The companies of the river transportation sector need some RUR 5 billion to get ready for the navigation FV-Novosti cites Aleksandr Zaitsev, President of the Association of Ports and Shipowners of River Transport, as saying at the congress of Russia’s Union of Transport Companies under Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
This happens for the first time for 15 years, he said. The sector is not able to repay loans with annual rate of 25% and more as river transport companies do not have any privileges any more.
According to Zaitsev, river fleet and port infrastructure may cease to exist as an adequate sector if the issue is not solved.
On March 17 Federal Agency of Marine and River Transport approved the Program for categories of navigation equipment, terms of it operation, guaranteed dimensions of navigable passes and terms of operation for hydraulic engineering structures during navigation 2009-2011 (Order No АД-37-р).