Sergei Ivanov presented the problems in improving Russian marine navigation and hydrography. Over the last two decades Russia has lost the technology to produce geoinformation and to rebuild the corresponding infrastructure, the deputy prime minister said. Due to this, the exploration of seas and oceans, including Russia's territorial waters, has fallen to a critical level, the deputy prime minister said.
Sergei Ivanov mentioned the autumn voyage of Sovcomflot's SCF Baltika tanker along the Northern Sea Route as an example. The crew had to steer the vessel by sight and feel to avoid shallow sections not marked on Russian maps, the deputy prime minister said. Sergei Ivanov expressed hope that the Marine Board would work out solutions allowing it to redevelop a uniform graphic navigation support system.
In his speech the deputy prime minister also touched on search and rescue operations at sea. Regarding search and rescue vessels, he noted that eight in ten boats or ships have been in use longer than their expect service lives, seven in ten need yard repair and the same number need upgrading. According to the deputy prime minister, a departmental approach persists in the marine rescue and search operation system, which leads to the duplication of functions, the waste of money and the diffusion of responsibility.
Sergei Ivanov appealed to meeting participants asking them to reinforce interdepartmental cooperation regarding these issues and instructed the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Transport to cooperate in marine search and rescue exercises.