Document developed by stevedores of port Primorsk infringes upon other company’s rights – Harbour Master
Stevedoring companies of port Primorsk (Leningrad region) – Spetsmornefteport Primorsk LLC, Primorsk commercial port LLC, BalttransServis LLC – have developed and submitted for approval to the Harbour Master of port Primorsk the new document “Safety standards for operation of hydraulic engineering structures, emergency rescue and fire alert at the terminals of Spetsmornefteport Primorsk LLC, Primorsk commercial port LLC and BalttransServis LLC (Standards). According to the Harbour Master, the document has been elaborated with violation of requirements set forth by a number of valid normative legal documents. The opinion of I.Zlotykh, Harbour Master of port Primorsk, addressed to the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, as well as the copy of the Standards, is at the disposal of IAA PortNews editors.
According to the Harbour Master, the above stevedoring companies “exceed their authority when issuing orders infringing upon the rights of other companies willing to operate under equal representation on tugging or other port services”.
In accordance with the applicable legislation, safety requirements can be imposed on entities operating at port Primorsk and at the approaches to it only by authorized organizations like Rostransnadzor (Federal Agency for Transport Supervision), Harbour Master of Primorsk branch of Big Port St. Petersburg Administration. Besides, under articles 74 and 75 of the Merchant Marine Code (Federal Law dated April 30, 1999, as amended) Harbour Master of a port is not entitled to restrain activities of commercial entities and organizations providing port services not related to the requirements of “Compulsory regulations at Primorsk seaport” or to other orders of Rosmorrechflot superiors.
Commercial Seaport Primorsk is the largest port of the North West region of Russia in terms of oil and oil product export. It is the final stage of the Baltic Pipeline System (BPS) and main product pipelines Kstovo-Yaroslavl-Kirishi-Primorsk (Sever project) of AK Transnefteproduct OJSC. In 2012, the port’s throughput slightly declined to 74,768,700 tonnes against 75,124,900 tonnes in 2011.