Financing of IWW maintenance according to established norms from 2018 is a dream of all river companies

The decision made by RF Vladimir Putin on transition to financing of IWW maintenance according to established norms from 2018 was a dream of all river companies, IAA PortNews correspondent cites Igor Levitin, Aide to the President of Russia, as saying at the final extended meeting of Transport Ministry’s Board.

“The attention paid to the river has always been residual. Now, that we come to full-scale financing of inland water ways we should look at the infrastructure of railway transport. These issues are very important and are in the focus of the President,” he emphasized.

Levitin also congratulated the Ministry of Transport with the construction of port Sabetta in the north. According to him, it is a unique port allowing for revising of transport policy and logistics.

The official thinks it is possible to revise the development of Far East ports and correlate it with the development of new ports in the north. “New ports that are under construction have already shipped 2 mln t of coal while the reserves are 80 mln t. I think we should pay attention to logistics allowing for our companies to enter the Northern region,” he said.

Igor Levitin also reminded about the State Council Presidium meeting on developing transport infrastructure in the Southern Federal District chaired by the President in September 2016, when urgent issues of southern transport infrastructure were brought up. “It is the throughput capacity of southern ports. With the construction of infrastructure in Crimea it is the most significant element,” emphasized the official.