OREANDA-NEWS. On February 06, 2007 Russian Railways held a video-telephone conference on cooperation between the railways and sea ports, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

The meeting was attended by First Vice-President of Russian Railways Vadim Morozov, Deputy Transport Minister Alexander Misharin and senior officials from involved federal agencies, railways and seaports, as well as representatives of large shippers and forwarders.

During the meeting, Morozov said that 13% of all freight carried by Russian Railways goes through railway stations at ports, noting that in January 2008, Russian shippers intended to ship 32,1 million tonnes of cargo due for export via these stations, but could only agree on 24,9 million tonnes with the ports. Including Russian ports and oil terminals, they accepted 16,5 million tonnes of cargo, while Ukrainian and Baltic ports took 8,4 million tonnes.

In agreeing the volumes of export shipments through Russian ports, oil terminals and foreign railways, not more than 4,8 million tonnes were confirmed. Foreign railways have not confirmed that they would accept 2,2 million tonnes, and Russian oil ports and oil terminals near ports 2,6 million tonnes.

As a result of the failure to accept freight on the part of Russian ports and foreign railways, Russian Railways lost revenues in January 2008 alone of more than 3,4 billion roubles.

To avoid lengthy delays and rolling stock standing idle, Russian Railways has been to declare 18 conventional prohibitions and restrictions on the loading of export cargo destined for Russian ports for 147 days, 2,5 times more than last year's figure.