TRANSTEC 2010 - 10th International Exhibition and “Future of the Russian Ports” Conference Preview,
11th March 2010 - Russia, St. Petersburg, “Lenexpo” Fairground.
“International Perspectives for Russian Port Development”
Mr. Roderick Keay, Dolphin Exhibitions Ltd., UK
Distinguished Guests,
Our colleagues on our panel of speakers are best qualified to describe the major changes currently under development in the port industries and port-related industries of Russia.
The unique position of the Russian Territory provides a natural land-bridge East West / North South for cargo and passenger traffic. But even more unique is the number of coastal / littoral areas of the Russian Federation which offer links to the shipping water borne transport chain.
Only Russia provides such opportunities in so many oceans, seas, lakes and inland waterways.
By strong contrast with shipping and shipbuilding the development of ports requires a far longer period of time to prepare for change and to provide improved facilities and modern services.
Shipping can afford to look 2-3 years in advance: for ports the period is realistically a minimum of 5-8 years. So the planning process for Russian ports has already started.
At TRANSTEC 2008 we saw the first results of radical changes in port planning and management in Russia, part of a fundamental movement to accelerate the development of ports and their integration with other ports and transport systems right around the world.
In this context we were pleased to welcome for the first time in 2008 the participation of major global ports organizations including the International Association of Ports and Harbors, Tokyo, the European Sea Ports Organisation, Brussels, the International Labor Organization (United Nations), Geneva and the Shanghai Ports Group from China.
The significance of these participations can be seen by the welcome return of these senior organizations to TRANSTEC 2010 in October this year.
The TRANSTEC Programme is firstly and mainly a BUSINESS TO BUSINESS Event focusing exclusively on port and port-related transport industries. The Programme of Conference and Seminars will provide a three day Hub for commercial information exchange and the window to opportunities and challenges facing Russian sea and inland ports.
So the International Association of Ports and Harbors will deliver again a Key Note overview Presentation to the Plenary Conference followed by a more informal Round Table Meeting between Russian ports and Port administrations with their counterparts from ports around the world to exchange experiences and forecasts for increased cooperation at the practical level.
The European Sea Ports Organisation has built on the relations established with Russia during TRANSTEC 2008 and this year we see more possibilities to accelerate cooperation perhaps in subjects including the Short-sea “Motorways of the sea” project and the inland “Dry Port” concept.
An additional primary focus with direct relevance to foreign non-Russian industry and port administrations will be on the subject of “PORT USERS”. Clearly the new ports in Russia and modernization of the existing ports should meet the future demands of Russian and foreign Port Users.
So we plan Sessions to study and exchange practical information involving shipping companies, also including the owners and producers of cargoes such as raw materials, finished and semi-finished products and container shipments, also including non-maritime transport operators as port users e.g. railways and including global logistics players.
Here again there are realistic opportunities for foreign companies to become involved. Already we will welcome the Gulf Oil Marine Co, Hong Kong as a Key Note Speaker to illustrate the issues of the substantial costs incurred by shipping companies during a port call.
Of course all these new activities require regulation in areas such as safely, security and working conditions. And again we welcome this year the International Labor Organization of the United Nations which has been working closely with the Russian authorities to introduce modern codes of practice.
Large scale finance and investment will be required during the next period of development. We therefore also plan during TRANSTEC for a high-level Finance Investment Conference with experienced speakers and panelists from London and other senior financial centres. The Conference will investigate the possibilities for Private and also Public Private Partnership ownership and management.
The TRANSTEC Exhibition offers a realistic opportunity for international producers of port facilities and operational systems / equipment to display their most modern products to the port managers and administrations from all regions of the Russian Federation, North, South, East and West.
The Exhibition Profile includes:
Port infrastructure, equipment and civil engineering to maximize port efficiency.
New container hubs for sea and river ports
New bulk cargo facilities at sea and river ports
Port development to support the offshore energy activities in the Arctic, Caspian and Far East Regions.
Equipment for port transport links with railways, roads and airports
Port development in the Baltic Sea to support the North Stream energy pipeline
Port development in the Black Sea to support the South Stream energy pipeline
Dredging and improved seaway access
Increased cooperation with ports outside Russia e.g. Group of ports from Finland intends to exhibit
Handling equipment for container and bulk cargoes
Storage and refrigeration
Intermodal handling
As described today the outline structure of the TRANSTEC 2010 Exhibition & Programme is already in place.
We organizers will continue our “work in progress” during the next six months and we are particularly looking forward to welcoming an increasing number of participants from outside Russia who can offer the most advanced technologies and systems to accelerate the development of the Russian ports and their links with other countries.
