Russian ships escape to Convenient Flags

Proportion of Russian-flagged ships for the past 5 years has decreased by 20%, while vessels sailing under foreign flags has increased 1,8 times as much, to 70%, PortNews IAA correspondent reported quoting Sergei Buyanov, Deputy CEO, head of Research Department of Navy Fleet Researches, who was speaking today at the International Forum" Maritime Industry of Russia. Mr. Buyanov added that this early year there were 1.187 Russian-flagged ships with total deadweight of 5.4 million tons. The average deadweight tonnage of dry cargo vessels is of 4.200 tons, of liquid cargo - 5,500 tons. The average age of the Russian fleet ship is 23 years.

There were 189 ships sailing under foreign flags early this year with total deadweight of 12.3 million tons. The average deadweight of offshore vessels is about 65,000 tons (tankers – 80,000 tons). The average age of foreign-flagged tankers is just 6,2 years.

According to Sergei Buyanova Russian International Ship Register "does not solve by itself the whole problem of return of Russian ships under the flag of Russia, and the main provisions of the Registry require substantial overhaul.  "A long-term strategic results can be achieved by only a comprehensive and interlinked solution aimed at revival of the country economy related to shipping, primarily the national shipbuilding industry, through the state regulation of monetary relations, optimizing and improving tax and customs legislation.

In this regard, the Russian Ministry of Transport with participation of specialists of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) and MinPromTorg of Russia has prepared a draft Federal law "On Amending Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in Connection with the Implementation of Measures for Support the Russian Shipbuilding and Shipping." The bill is expected to be coordinated with concerned ministries and departments.

Source: Port News