Alexander Davydenko, head of the Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transportation, said river ports' cargo tonnage had decreased 5% year-on-year to 170.6 million, attributing the drop to delayed navigation in the spring due to deep-frozen waterways.
He said liquid petroleum shipments - both domestic and foreign - through Russia's river ports had dwindled in 2005 amid an increase in the tonnage of dry bulk cargoes, such as grain, minerals, and agricultural fertilizers.
Deputy Transportation Minister Alexander Misharin said the country's river cargo tonnage was expected to hit the 530 million mark by the year 2010.
He said Russian ports had increased their freight movement capacity by a total of 30 million metric tons last year due to the introduction of 14 additional vessels, with an overall deadweight capacity of 1.6 million tons, as well as new logistics facilities.
Outlining priorities for the year ahead, Misharin said there was a need to streamline the state regulation of maritime ports, enhance shipping safety, optimize the use of federal property at ports and improve the attractiveness of the port business.
