Russian-Ukrainian agreement on safety in the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait has entered force

Director of Russia’s Ministry of Transport Department of State Policy for Maritime and River Transport Mr. Konstantin Palnikov has announced that the agreement «On measures to ensure the safety of navigation in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait» took effect on November 5, 2012.

Russian Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov has issued a directive to establish the Russian part of a joint working group of experts on exchange of data of the Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). To prepare organizational, technical and operational proposals for the AIS data exchange, it has been suggested that the working group should hold meetings twice a year.

Russian-Ukrainian Joint Commission has agreed to hold in November 2012 a joint meeting of the services responsible for ensuring navigation safety in the Sea of Azov and for vessel traffic regulation during ice campaign 2012-2013, with participation of border and customs services.

The parties have also agreed upon a draft text of a joint action plan for 2012-2013 to implement the agreement, and have agreed to start internal coordination of the plan.

English translation by BSN
Adapted from PortNews