THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION

Maritime transport in Russia became an independent sector in 1924 when the joint-stock company 'Sovtorgflot' was formed to unite under its flag and auspices ships and vessels of various departments, ports and ship-repairing enterprises, as well as educational establishments.

In 1974 the sector was awarded the Order of Lenin for outstanding achievements in the development of maritime transport and transportation of cargoes for the national economy including foreign trade.

Today maritime transport comprises: 10 major state and joint-stock shipping companies and about 300 private shipping companies, 44 commercial ports, 146 berths owned by commercial structures, 13 shipyards, the Russian Register of Shipping, 4 research institutes and 2 design bureaus, 3 naval (maritime) academies, 6 colleges and 40-odd other enterprises and entities.

Since 1996, administration and supervision of the sector has been the primary concern of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, and more specifically of its MARITIME ADMINISTRATION.

The principal activities of the MARITIME ADMINISTRATION include: — creation of conditions propitious to the growth of the competitive power of maritime transport; — adoption of transportation schemes for a safe and secure delivery of cargoes to the regions of the polar North; — a firm guarantee of safety of navigation; — implementation of the Programme for revival of Russia's merchant marine; — promotion of international cooperation and foreign economic relations in the field of maritime transport; — supervision of shipping in the area of the Northern Sea Route.

With the object of enhancing safety of navigation, minimizing the incidence of accidents and preventing environmental pollution of coastal waters and port water areas, the MARITIME ADMINISTRATION has taken the following measures: — distinct separation of shipping routes and lanes; — systems for vessels traffic control in the port areas and on the approaches to them; — zones of permanent and reliable ultra-short wave communications in coastal water; — regions of highly-accurate operation of vessels (navigation) with the use of control and adjustment differential stations of the Global Navigation Satellite System.

The MARITIME ADMINISTRATION has numerous business partners worldwide and attaches great importance to furthering international cooperation.