Sakhalin Railways expecting large seafood shipments from salmon fisheries
Sakhalin Railways has delivered special rolling-stock (co-owned by OAO Rerservice (plc)) ready to transport increased volumes of salmon species from the new fishing season, reports www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) with reference to IA SAKH.COM.
At a recent meeting with the fishermen both the carriers and the fishing businesses have discussed a number of issues at the turn of the sides' interests. First, they have talked about forecasted salmon runs and support from the executive power. According to a spokesman of Sakhalin's Fishery Department Sergey Chaika, this year the Russian Far East Basin, including Kamchatka, is expected to witness record strong runs of salmons forecasted at 440,000 tonnes, half of which will be observed in Sakhalin and in the Kuriles. The Department says it will do its best to solve all the problems arising in the course of the fishing season. This year Russia's Federal Fisheries Agency has allowed the regions to be free to define both the time periods and the catch volumes thus avoiding extra problems and simplifying planning of seafood shipments by railway.
The second issue for discussion has touched upon the possibilities of OAO Refservice (plc) itself. While last year there were some complains due to delays with the availability of the company's rolling-stock, this year by the start of the fishing season Refservice has already prepared up to 20 five-car reefer sections of the total capacity of 4600 tonnes.
Representatives of OAO Transcontainer (plc) have also promised to support the carriers with extra volume of universal and special heat-insulated containers as well as to provide connection of the reefer containers to stationary electric power sources at the container terminal. In the meantime, the veterinary and sanitary bodies are also going to make a number of decisions in order to simplify clearance of seafood cargoes for delivery to mainland Russia in railway cars and containers.
Out of forecasted 120,000 tonnes which the fishermen are planning to harvest only at the Sakhalin coast, Sakhalin Railways plans to transport at least 20,000 tonnes of salmon.