Russian Association of Marine and River Bunkering Suppliers SRO wrote a letter to Dmitriy Medvedev, Russian prime-minister. The appeal and accompanying documentation presents analysis of negative impact of MARPOL 73/78 restrictions on Russian shipping industry, ports and bunkering industry after new regulations come into force in 2015.

In experts’ opinion, Russian oil industry won’t be able to produce sufficient amount of low-sulphur mazut to meet the market demand. Fleet transfer to alternative fuel is too expensive. Professional forecast shows a sharp drop of bunkering services in Russian ports in 2015, up to 40% against the previous year, which will cause significant trade reduction. To prevent industry collapse the Association proposed government to establish a special work group which should work out adequate federal measures, particularly, construction of LNG terminals, provisions to ensure equal access to port infrastructure for all market operators.