ICE PILOTAGE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

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ICE PILOTAGE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE Growing of maritime trade in 2000s via sea routes of Black and Azov Sea lead the Russian Government to take special care of coordination and safety of vessel’s movement during winter period when there are customary ice conditions in the Azov Sea and internal waterways (Volga river; Don river and Northern Part of Caspian Sea). For the purpose of improvement of traffic coordination, the state created the Federal Commission of sea and river transport in order to organize the icebreaking pilotage of ships in freezing ports of the Russian Federation in 2014. As a result, in 2015 "Regulation on the Basin Commission for organization of icebreaker’s assistance for ships in the seaports of Sea of Azov and on the approaches to them” was adopted. The Commission is guided in its activities by Merchant Shipping Code of Russian Federation and other Laws of Russia related to Shipping. The Commission was created on the basis of the Federal state budgetary institution (further FSBI) "Administration of Marine Ports (further AMP) of the Azov Sea" and was led by the head of the FSBI "AMP of the Azov Sea" (hereinafter - the Head of the Commission). In absence of the Head of the Commission, his functions in accordance with the order of the head of the FSBI "AMP of the Sea of Azov" and the Regulations on the Commission are performed by the Harbour Master of one of the seaports which are part of the FSBI "AMP Sea of Azov". It is obligatory that the Commission consists of the Harbour Masters of all seaports of the basin, representatives of the icebreaker operator’s fleet, captains of icebreakers, providing icebreaker assistance. The Commission usually has weekly meetings. When necessary, by decision of the Head of the Commission, the number of meetings can be increased. Information about the time and place of the next meetings of the Commission is published on the official website of the “AMP of seaports of the Azov Sea". Commission’s operational group is formed by the head of the Commission, performing round-the-clock operational work to coordinate icebreaking pilotage of ships. Harbour Masters, taking into account the recommendations developed by the Commission, issue the necessary orders for the respective seaports. Particularly the Commission develops the sequence of movement of icebreaker caravans, pilotage of ships on the basis of requests from Harbour Masters’ offices of seaports, drawn up in accordance with the priorities established by Russian Maritime Laws. It also recommends Harbour Masters’ offices to impose restrictions on ice navigation in sea water area for ships, ports and on approaches to them, taking into account inter alia: ice conditions and ice forecast, ice class of a vessel, ship’s engine power and age of a vessel.


The Commission develops recommendations for Shipowners and ships’ Masters on the requirements for a ship to have a sufficient emergency supply for ice navigation in accordance with the established standards and ice conditions. It analyses and summarizes the results of the work of icebreakers, the progress of the daily plans for icebreaker assistance, the implementation of applications for icebreaker support of ships, the intensity of operation of icebreakers. The Commission determines the arrangement of the icebreaker fleet and the need for its changes in accordance with the actual ice conditions and actual ice and meteorological forecasts. It lastly recommends, if necessary, changes in the schedule of planned preventive repairs and replenishment of the icebreaker's reserves. PRACTICAL VALUE OF ACTIVITY OF COMMISSION Results of activity of the Commission are daily publications on the official website of the FSBI "AMP Sea of Azov" providing:

− actual ice information − information on the deployment of ships − the activity of icebreakers − composition of the icebreaker’s escort caravan for each icebreaker − the approved list of vessels according to the applications of Harbour Masters’ offices after

their inspection − general list of vessels for icebreaker assistance for the next day − indicating vessel priorities for each seaport of the basin − transfers the composition of the icebreaker escort caravan to each icebreaker − informs about the location of the caravan formation points (hereinafter - CFP) by publishing

the CFP coordinates

In the event of an emergency in the Sea of Azov, the Commission interacts with the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre and other emergency rescue units. VALID ICE CONDITIONS FOR THE VESSEL As a result of decisions made by the Commission and in line with the requirements of the article 178 of "General Rules of navigation and mooring of vessels in and on approaches to seaports of the Russian Federation" which is approved by the order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation dated October 26, 2017 No 463. And in accordance with the paragraph 95 of "Bylaws at the Sea Port Azov" which is approved by the order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian


Federation dated 13.12.2012 No 430, the following limitations were implemented in the ports of the Azov Sea from 14.12.2020*

Port Commencement of ice-

breaking assistance period

Limitation’s implementation Content of limitation

Azov As per COTP order No 36 dated 04/12/2020 Period commences on 07/12/2020 at 00:00LT

As per COTP order No 38 dated 07/12/20 In force since 14/12/2020 00:00LT

1. The ice navigation is restricted only to the vessels with at least are of “Ice1” ice class according to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping classification or with the similar categories of ice reinforcement according to the classification society of the particular vessel.

2. In the period of ice-breaking assistance in the

seaport water area it is allowed to perform towing operations only in case of emergency. This restriction does not apply to the towing of vessels by icebreakers in the process of pilotage and mooring operations in the port.

Yeisk As per COTP order No 01-03/21 dated 07/12/2020 Period commences on 08/12/2020 at 00:00LT

As per COTP order No 01-03/23 dated 08/12/2020 In force since 15/12/2020 00:00LT

Taganrog As per COTP order No 9 dated 04/12/2020 Period commences on 07/12/2020 at 00:00LT

As per COTP order No 11 dated 07/12/20 In force since 14/12/2020 00:00LT

Rostov – on – Don

As per COTP order No ДБ-З4Р dated 04/12/2020 Period commences on 07/12/2020 at 00:00LT

As per COTP order No ДБ-З6Р dated 07/12/2020 In force since 14/12/2020 00:00LT

In addition to the limitations stated above** 1. The ships 30 years of age and older should

have the confirmation of their ice class issued by an agency authorized for ships classification and surveys in accordance with the Article 22 of MSC.

2. The ship is to be stuffed with sufficient stock of fuel, provision and fresh water for the period of not less than 14 days of sailing.

* Limitations’ imposition is put in effect on annual basis before the formation of ice in sea and rivers and are extended till the end of Ice Navigation period. **These limitations are applicable for the ports of Azov, Yeisk and Taganrog as well. They are included into the bylaws of each mentioned port respectively. ©OCEANCLAW

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ICE PILOTAGE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE