Members of the Association of Maritime Transport Entrepreneurs discussed issues of concern

In Aktau, the annual general meeting of the Association of Marine Transport Entrepreneurs was held. The members of the Association discussed the results of their activities, as well as pressing problem issues, both on the development of sea transportation and on the industry as a whole.

Deputy Chairman of the Board of NCE "Atameken" Eldos Ramazanov speaking at the meeting stressed the role of the Association for the Development of the sea transportation sector in Kazakhstan.

"Today Atameken pays great attention to resolving the problematic issues of the maritime industry raised by the maritime transport business, such as the liquidation of oil spills in the Caspian Sea, the protection of the interests of local shipping carriers, the training of marine personnel and the development of human resources, and the acceleration of the signing of the Agreement on Navigation in within the framework of the EEU," said Eldos Ramazanov.

So far, the issues of preparedness and response to oil spills have been considered as a narrowly focused activity of one authorized body in the field of subsoil use.

However, considering that at present, according to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the requirements for the liquidation of oil spills apply to authorized bodies in the field of transport and emergency situations, Atameken will conduct the necessary work together with these state bodies to develop a mechanism for responding to oil spills from vessels, as well as reimbursement of costs of organizations involved in the liquidation of oil spills. Taking into account that in 2018 the great attention will be paid to the Ecological code of the RK, the issue is still relevant as Nation Chamber repeatedly stated.

In addition, the need to amend Article 11 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Merchant Shipping" was stressed.

Participants of the meeting noted the issue of the development of Kazakhstan's sea carriers. At the time, on the basis of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) and the lack of vessels required for the implementation of large projects in the RK, the Merchant Shipping Act amended the Law on Merchant Shipping on the possibility of sailing under the flag of Kazakhstan for foreign ships on the Caspian Sea through the branches. However, now the Kazakhstan sea fleet shows development, thus corresponding changes in the branch legislation are necessary.

Particular emphasis is placed on attracting back loading of sea-going vessels: the fact is that they (dry cargo ships, ferries) are already empty when they bring cargo. The participants came to a decision that it is necessary to strengthen work with industry associations to provide the appropriate freight base of shipping.

"The National Chamber will work on this question with the other Committees of the NCE Presidium. Recommendations will be worked out. I will add that KTZ fully supports container shipments through ports, it is ready to consider lowering rates and discounts," the Deputy Chairman of the Board said.

In addition, he noted the need to study international experience in the state support of local sea carriers in the transportation of goods on the example of state subsidies in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The representative of the national shipping company Kazmortransflot stressed the need for all Kazakhstani and foreign ships to have the same prices, or as an option to raise the tariff for foreign companies.

The topic of raising the human resources potential of the maritime transport industry was also touched upon.

Representatives of the industry note that the issue of recognition at the international level of diplomas of graduates of Kazakhstan educational institutions training specialists in the field of maritime transport is still acute. There is need for understanding from the ministries of education and science and investment and development. Relevant recommendations were developed and sent to authorized state bodies by "Atameken".

In his turn, Nikolai Yudin added that the problematic issues of the industry are being resolved thanks to Atameken.

"All current issues, including those voiced at the site of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, and their step-by-step solutions are included in the Road Map of the Subcommittee on Water Transport for 2018, which was approved by the Chairman of the Logistics and Transportation Committee of the Atameken Presidium," Nikolai Yudin said.

Atameken also offered to consolidate with the Association of Shipowners and Marine Industry Entrepreneurs.

"The lack of consolidation negatively affects both the examination of regulatory legal acts and the implementation of activities to develop the water transport industry. The association will strengthen the work of the industry and raise it to a new level, "stressed Eldos Ramazanov.

In general, in order to solve all systemic problems in the industry, it is necessary to adopt an appropriate program for the development of maritime transport in the Republic of Kazakhstan, which will cover such issues as improving the efficiency of using the transit potential of seaports as multimodal transport hubs on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, increasing human resources, developing the services market sea carriers, increasing the safety of sea shipping in the Caspian Sea, innovative development of the industry, etc.

During the working trip, Eldos Ramazanov visited the Aktau seaport and the Kuryk port.

Port Kuryk is the new and second largest port of Kazakhstan, which in the future will increase the transit and export potential of the country and increase its competitiveness in the Caspian region.

Now the volume of transshipment of goods has exceeded 1 million tons as the employees of the Kuryk port noted.

Today, the second phase of the port construction is underway - an automotive component, the commissioning of which will allow to reach the volume of transshipment of 7 million tons per year.

The presence of railways and roads gives a number of advantages to the port of Kuryk, in particular, they make it one of the main points of the logistics chain in the conditions of multimodal transport of goods along international transport corridors.

The port of Aktau has become a strategically important transport hub linking the countries of the Caspian basin. Today the Aktau International Sea Trade Port, located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, is the only seaport of Kazakhstan, intended for international transport of various types of cargo.

Eldos Ramazanov discussed the current issues of the port with the president of National company " Aktau International Sea Trade Port" JSC Abay Turikpenbayev, the special emphasis was on the issues of providing the port with containerized cargo.