On March 2, M/V Kapitan Kanatov left for her first voyage having marked the beginning of the navigation season of 2018 for Volga Shipping OJSC (a company of UCL Holding). The ship of Project RSD44 loaded with 5,200 tonnes of grain is sailing along the Don river, from the port of Rostov-on-Don to port Kavkaz. This year, Volga Shipping Company’s navigation season in the Southern Basin opened one month ahead of the traditional starting date.
Under new regulations of Russian River Register, vessels of mixed sea/river M-PR class can enter the Azov Sea including the Kerch Strait from 1 March 2018 (last year they could operate in that basin from April 1).
Vessels of Volga Shipping Company involved in grain transportation have been prepared for an early navigation. Three ships of Project RSD44 and three ships of Volgo-Don type are to be put into operation in the beginning of March.
Volga Shipping Company is going to kick off its navigation season on the Upper Volga in April.