Odessa, 20 OCTOBER 2016, CONTEXT-Prichernomorie — The Administration of the seaports discussed preparations for work during the ice campaign 2016-2017, the correspondent of IA «Context-Prichernomorie» reports.

It was reported to the agency today, October 20, in a press-service of the SE «Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority».

According to the press service, the meeting chaired by acting Chairman of SE USPA Yuriy Nakonechny was attended by the heads of governments and captains of sea ports of the country, heads of structural subdivisions of the management of USPA.

«The government and the Ministry of infrastructure focused on the issues of safety of navigation and the preparation of the ice campaign in the seaports. Security issues are key for the entire Maritime industry», — said Yuriy Nakonechny opening the meeting.

In the framework of the preparations for the ice campaign of the 2016-2017 year will be prepared a Plan of organizational and technical measures to ensure the safety of navigation, which clearly defines the tasks, responsibility ice coordinators (captains of the ports), the regional coordinators of the ice, the vessels that will be involved in the course of the winter navigation, and the steps that need to be implemented to collect information from all businesses in the territory of the ports.

In particular, in the areas of responsibility of the coordinators to conduct ice operations in the seaports will be established operational headquarters to ensure the safe conduct of ice campaign. The composition of the headquarters will include leading experts of seaports on energy issues, technical support, hydraulic service ports.

Following the meeting, administrations of sea ports assigned to determine the readiness of the piers to work in the winter (free entrances to the pier, the availability of sand for dealing with ice, etc.) to inventory the presence of ice-class tugs, which may be involved in the rescue operations in the areas of responsibility of captains of seaports. In addition, in the framework of the plan of preparations for the ice campaign, administrations of sea ports have been instructed to ensure availability of leases required vessels with ice class to ensure safe pilotage.

Also in November 2016 will be held extraordinary sessions with pilots and pilots-operators, shipmasters regarding the features of the navigation and pilotage during winter navigation.