Russia and Germany discuss mechanisms of cooperation in shipbuilding industry (photo)
Victor Olersky, Deputy Transport Minister of Russia, has met today with Christian Pegel, Minister of Energy, Infrastructure and Regional Development of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Germany), RF Transport Minister says.
The meeting was held within the framework of the conference Saint-Petersburg Logistics Days, where the German side presented the shipbuilding industry of Germany through the example of Nordic Yards Group.
The parties discussed potential cooperation of German and Russian shipyards. Besides, they discussed functioning of the ferry line Ust-Luga – Sassnitz. The parties noted the improved quality of the service including the customs clearance procedure.
Major problem of the further ferry line development is in underdeveloped railway approaches to port Ust-Luga.
Victor Olersky says the Ministry of Transport makes great efforts to solve this problem as soon as possible.
Victor Olersky and Christian Pegel also discussed possible announcement of NECA status for the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The issue is on the agenda of the coming meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) scheduled for March 31 – April 4, 2014.
«To a certain extent, it is an invented problem, - Victor Olersky said. – It concerns not only ship owners but also port infrastructure within the control area. It is also a matter of goods competitiveness in these regions. As of today, global industry is not ready to provide an adequate, competitive and technological solution for this problem. We understand that progress in any business is not possible without additional regulation but all innovations should be introduced in proper time”.
The next meeting will be held in late April 2014 in Moscow at the international exhibition TransRussia.