Last week the training program “The Bunker Supply of the Vessels: Law Aspects”, organized by the Russian Association of Marine and River Bunkers  with the assistance of Saint-Petersburg law company “Remedy” came to the end. As it was expected, most of the applicants were the lawyers of the bunker companies.  Besides them 4 managers, including general director of “Andia” ltd. and deputy chief on security of “Administration of Taman Marine Ports” took part in the program.

On the whole the program was estimated as very useful. At the same time almost every applicant expressed an opinion that in future it is necessary to pay more attention to the practical aspects, including specific examples, and not obvious niceties which are so important for work of law services of bunker companies.  Vitaly Kovalev, president of Russian Bunker Association, gave his comments: “None of institutes graduates specialists for our industry. However this work demands deep knowledge of different parts of the legislation. That is why the employees have to study directly at their work places. The programs organized by the Association help to accelerate the process”.    

It is necessary to point out that this very approach has been used during the preparation for the 2nd part of the program “The Bunker Supply of the Vessels: Law Aspects”, which will take place in Saint-Petersburg in February 2007. The major attention will be paid to disputes, complaints, including sequestrations, search of skip accounts, etc.

For the first time the issues concerning VAT refund will be discussed in details. Till present moment each company at the cost of the serious material losses has been working out their own methods of cash refund, which belongs to them according to legislation. The applicants will have a chance to get acquainted both with normative legal documents and the arbitral practice.