The Governor of the Murmansk Region, Andrey Chibis, held a meeting of the Maritime Council under the government of the region in accordance with the tasks of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation. The main topic was the consolidation of efforts to strengthen the Murmansk Region's position as a flagship for the development of the Arctic and the implementation of strategic objectives set by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Murmansk is the largest port in the Arctic Circle, which is of strategic importance for the whole country. Our key goal is to make it a multidisciplinary hub, increase its capacity and ensure work with different types of cargo within the Transarctic transport Corridor. To achieve this, comprehensive work is underway in all areas, from infrastructure modernization to personnel training and innovation," Andrei Chibis said in his opening remarks.
The council members stated that the completion of the overhaul of the long-range pier in Murmansk opens up new opportunities for the development of maritime tourism. The facility is ready to become a key point for receiving cruise ships and organizing pleasure routes along the Kola Bay, which are planned to be launched next year.
As part of the agreement with the Government of the Murmansk Region, extensive and painstaking work is underway to restore the capacity of the oldest ship repair company, the Murmansk Marine Fleet Shipyard. According to Pyotr Matyushenko, General Director of Murmansk Ship Repair Plant LLC (part of C7 Group of Companies CJSC), the work is in an active phase: the territory is being cleared of old buildings, two floating docks are being repaired in the Kola Bay, one of which, PD-81, was transported from Butovo in the summer.Zaozersk, it will be completely reconstructed. As a result of the modernization, the investor plans to create a modern ship repair plant, and ships assigned to the port of Murmansk will have the opportunity to undergo comprehensive repairs in their harbor.
"Currently, we are actively developing the infrastructure of the Murmansk Ship Repair Plant, the oldest enterprise. Today, the investment portfolio is already about 2 billion rubles. The main efforts are focused on the marine part: repair and restoration of the dock facilities. In parallel, we are starting work on the coastal infrastructure. We plan to redevelop most of the territory to meet modern ship repair standards in order to provide shipowners with high—quality and affordable services," said Petr Matyushenko.
Maria Knyazeva, Acting Rector of Murmansk Arctic University, spoke about the training of specialists for the industry. The Arctic Marine Engineering Development Center is being created on the basis of the UIA. Its activities will be focused on mechanical engineering and the manufacture of design documentation for components for marine equipment, which is extremely important for import substitution. Ivan Sukhanov, General Director of NPC Progress LLC, presented a project for the development of unmanned marine logistics. The possibility of creating a special experimental mode will be explored.
The development of the Arctic requires an integrated approach, which is why it is important to cooperate with as many organizations as possible, including volunteer organizations, said Evgenia Chibis, head of the United Volunteer Center, in a report on the Murmansk Region's experience in restoring the lighthouses of the Barents and White Seas. For three years, the volunteer project "From the spring to the ocean. Mayaki unites hundreds of volunteers, as well as about 30 companies and public organizations. As a result, three lighthouses have already been repaired by caring people: Kashkarantsevsky, Teribersky and Vaidagubsky. The project received nationwide recognition at the end of 2024, winning the country's main volunteer award #MYPLACE.
"There is great interest in our volunteers now at the federal level, and among the lighthouse community of the country as a whole, because the situation with the state of lighthouses is similar in many regions. And our experience with the Hydrographic Service of the Northern Fleet has been recognized as successful. Each lighthouse is unique in its own way, so it is impossible to make a carbon copy project. And today, at the Maritime Council, we are working out solutions that will allow us to continue the restoration of lighthouses and take the most complex objects," said Evgenia Chibis.
The council also noted that in Murmansk, the AZRF resident is implementing a project to create a yacht club in Drovyanoye. The berth has already been commissioned, which makes it possible to develop sailing, tourism and related businesses all year round.
Summing up the meeting, Andrey Chibis stressed that all the discussed projects are interconnected and aimed at the integrated development of the region.
"During the meeting, we outlined key priorities. In the field of ship repair, in addition to the STLC project that we have launched, S7 Group is actively working on the territory of the former Navy plant, where the largest dock in the northwest is being restored. To develop innovations, a special experimental mode will be created for testing unmanned boats of local production. The integration of education and industry is extremely important: the UIA training center, the best in the country, allows you to train and certify world-class specialists directly in the region. In addition, we plan to launch catamaran pleasure trips from the marine station, which will be a new step in the development of tourism after the repair of the pier of long—distance lines," said Andrey Chibis.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /