Meeting of the Marine Board of the Government of the Russian Federation for the protection of the marine environment from pollution

On February 19, 2020, Roman Viktorovich Parshin, General Director of ROSFLOTSERVICE LLC (part of SOYUZMASH CONSULTING), took part in the regular meeting of the Marine Board of the Government of the Russian Federation, chaired by Yuriy I. Borisov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, which was held at the Government House (Moscow).

Special attention was paid to ensuring the safety of navigation and protection of the marine environment from pollution from ships within the framework of fulfillment of the requirements of international agreements by the Russian Federation, as well as orders of the President of the Russian Federation dated December 21, 2019, N PR-2679 (subparagraph “b” of paragraph 1). 

Reports on the agenda were made by Deputy Minister of transport, Head of ROSMORRECHFLOT Yuriy A. Tsvetkov, Deputy Minister of energy P. Sorokin and Chief of the Main Headquarters of the Russian Federation Navy A. Vitko.

The demand of the Russian domestic market in marine fuels in 2020 will be more than 10 million tons, and the oil refining industry possesses reserves for increase of the production of low-sulfur fuel.

According to ROSMORRECHFLOT (Yuriy Tsvetkov), low-sulfur marine fuel is available in all sea ports of the Russian Federation. The transition of vessels to its use will not entail the conversion of marine engines, he added.

Yuri Ivanovich Borisov reminded that the Amendment to the MARPOL Convention dated January 1, 2020, introduced a requirement for the maximum content of sulfur in ship fuel – not more than 0.5% (instead of 3.5%). The Russian Federation joined the document in 2011.

"Meanwhile, the results of the work of the Control Department of the President of the Russian Federation indicate a slightly different situation in this area," stressed the Deputy head of the Government.

- For eight years, sufficient measures for the fulfillment of the assumed international obligations have not been taken. Data on fuel differ in different departments, the port infrastructure is not able to provide regular refueling of the fleet, and the competitiveness of the national fleet continues to decline.

Based on the analysis of the situation in this sphere, the President of the Russian Federation approved a list of instructions of December 21, 2019, PR - 2679, where the government, with the participation of the Marine Board, was requested to ensure making changes to the strategic planning documents regarding the increase of involvement of the Russian merchant fleet in the export and import of goods, construction and modernization of port infrastructure, increase of the volume of production of marine fuel according to its types, including gas fuel.