Number of locking operations on Russia’s IWW in 2017 grew by 1.5% to 218,200 (photo)

In the navigation period of 2017, administrations of IWW basins subordinate to the Federal Marine and River Transport Agency (Rosmorrechflot) were servicing 101,500 km of inland water ways including 49,970 km with guaranteed parameters of navigable channels (vs 49,070 km in 2016), says press center of Rosmorrechflot.

The share of IWWs with lighted and light-reflecting aids to navigation increased from 36.8% in 2016 to 37.7% in 2017.

Inland water ways of Russia number 741 hydraulic engineering structures, mostly in the European part of the country.

In 2017, the number of hydraulic engineering structures with unsatisfactory and hazardous level of safety declined by 0.4%, those with moderate level of safety – fell by 3.8%, with normal level – grew by 4.2%.

The total of locking operations in 2017 exceeded 218,200 (+1.5%, year-on-year). The number of fleet units that passed the locks grew by 4.3%, year-on-year, to more than 353,600.

According to the statement, stable and efficient work of companies organizing the operation of inland water transport and involved in cargo and passenger transportation was secured by considerable improvement of IWW parameters and technical state of hydraulic engineering structures with the allocations from the federal budget that was increased by RUB 4.5 bln, year-on-year.

The scope of dredging works was increased 1.5 times.

The length of inland water ways with aids to navigation was increased by 940 km, the total of inland water ways with round-the-clock traffic of vessels was increased by 837 km.

Overhaul was intensified at 59 HES facilitie, hence the level of safety improved.

To ensure safe transit navigation, 25.9 mln cbm of material was dredged in 2017, up from 17.5 mln cbm dredged in 2016.