Round Table “RF getting ready to participate in Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme” held in St. Petersburg

Round Table meeting “RF getting ready to participate in Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme” has been held in St. Petersburg within the framework of St. Petersburg leg of THE TALL SHIPS’ RACES BALTIC – 2009, PortNews IAA reporter tells. Vitaly Klyuev, deputy Director of the Department for State Policy in Maritime and River Transport (RF Transport Ministry) as well as representatives of other state authorities and branch associations participated in the meeting.

In autumn 2009, IMO Committee will audit Russian ports’ state structures and private companies to check conformity with norms and requirements of international conventions, codes and other IMO standards. In 2008, the Committee on National Maritime Policy of RF Federation Council twice considered the concerns related to publication and implementation of international conventions in the Russian Federation. The recommendations developed were submitted to the RF Government. Aleksei Klyavin, Director of the Department for State Policy in Maritime and River Transport, RF Transport Ministry, told about the inspection, which is to be held from September 25 till October 7, 2009, at the last meeting of the Maritime Board under RF Government. At the Round Table meeting representatives of the Department and other state authorities and related unions answered the questions of the event participants as regards preparedness of Russian ports for IMO audit.