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The Russian State Duma unanimously adopted the third reading of a bill on the judicial protection of Russian sailors On January 25 the State Duma of Russia passed the third reading the bill "On Amending Article 29 of the Civil Procedure Code of the Russian Federation" (in terms of ensuring judicial protection of crew members of Russian ships in the payment of wages and other sums). As it is stated in the materials of the lower chamber of Russian parliament, the document adopted unanimously. The draft law stipulates that members of the crew can go to court with a claim for recovery of wages and other sums due to the work on board the vessel, the cost of repatriation and social insurance contributions, not only at the location of the organization, the shipowner, but also at the location of the vessel or the defendant's home port of the vessel.
The project of "United Russia", "Saint-Petersburg - Sea Capital of Russia" supports the government of Perm region to create a major regional air transport unit. Another important step is taken in this direction. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the transfer of FSUE "Perm Airlines" (manages the airport, "Large Savino"), to the regional property to remove impediments to private investment in major transport project. Further development work on the reconstruction of the airport commented the Regional Project Coordinator, Deputy Chairman of the Perm City Duma Yuri Utkin. One of the focuses of his work – increasing the attractiveness of Perm for investors and tourists. According to him, the importance of reconstruction of the airport can not be overestimated. The current airport terminal was commissioned in 1965 and is designed for 500 thousand passengers per year. And in 2011 it amounted to more than 850 thousand people, including 258 000 people on international flights. Naturally, the old terminal could hardly cope with the increased passenger traffic, especially since it is constantly growing. In addition, guests of Perm, including potential investors, raise many questions on the quality of service and out-of-date view of the airport. "Attracting investment in the economy of the region - one of the main areas of my work. Now I am preparing for inclusion to the City Council the concept of long-term target of the program "Improving the investment attractiveness of Perm." It should be noted that among the investors, especially foreign ones, not only their own business etiquette and ethics adopted, but also a kind of aesthetics." - Emphasizes Yuri Utkin. - "In Russian the easiest way to translate it is the proverb: "Meet by clothes." Therefore, the new airport will facilitate the initial contacts with investors of Perm. And for that, "Seeing off by mind", this year we intend to launch a series of major initiatives. In particular, it is decided to create a non-profit partnership with the working title "Investors Club". It was the specially formed in December last year working group that will unite on one platform representatives from business, government and investment companies - all entities interested in attracting investments in Perm." By the time of handover of federal property to the regional, a lot of preparatory work on the old airport was done on the basis of a modern transport hub. Increase in passenger traffic 500 thousand to 1.5 million passengers a year is expected. This task is designed to solve a new ultramodern terminal, which, according to developers, will not be similar to European counterparts, but significantly outperforms them in terms of comfort and functionality. The world-famous Spanish architectural studio Ricardo Bofill designed the new terminal. The future terminal in its external appearance resembles a flying glider or aircraft of the future. The development of the Master Plan of the updated airport also charged with foreign private investors. The name of the new airport proposed to the Minister of Culture of Perm Krai, Nikolai Beginners. In his view, the international airport should be named after Sergei Diaghilev, born in Perm, the organizer of the famous "Russian Seasons," which took place in Paris in the early XX century. This idea fits to the overall concept of positioning Perm as one of the largest cultural centers of Europe, which is actively promoted by the regional administration. "I have always supported and will continue to advocate for the development of the geography of flights, especially on international routes, - says Yuri Utkin - A modern international airport for Perm - a kind of window to Europe and other foreign countries, the influx of investors into the region. And the increase of investment attractiveness of the edge leads to the creation of new businesses that provide jobs. Therefore, as a Regional Project Coordinator and Deputy Speaker of the Perm City Duma, I will give assistance to colleagues in government territory, to build a new terminal in the shortest possible time."
In 2013 a global code of tourists rights protection will enter into force The World Tourism Organization is currently developing a code of tourists rights protection. This is the first convention of the World Tourism Organization, which will be transboundary in nature and will apply to all travelers of States that acceded to it. Ratification of this convention is planned for 2013. The Federal Agency for tourism is an active member of the working group. "We are preparing our own proposals in the light of the Russian experience", Deputy Head of Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm) Eugene Pisarevskii said. "Events with cruise ship Costa Concordia showed that Russian tourists increasingly entering into deals with foreign tour operators, bypassing domestic ones. In this regard, for such individuals the question of protection of their rights raises. In particular, what law should be applied in this case", he stressed.
President of JSC "RZD" Vladimir Yakunin and head of October Railway Victor Stepov opened in St. Petersburg center of infrastructure management. Establishment of the infrastructure management center is a pilot project at the October Railway. Information on any incident, state of facilities and the safety of rail facilities in the Tver region and other regions, along which the October railways goes flocks in the center. According to Vladimir Yakunin, it's not just the first, but the only center of its kind, which every moment in the on-line and in accordance with appropriate regulations can control everything that happens on the infrastructure. As it is noted in the company October Railway is a pilot one, the most advanced, so the most advanced technologies, which are then replicated to the railway network are practiced here.
By the end of 2012 JSC "RZD" is to launch the Spanish trains Talgo. The contract for the train supply was signed with the Talgo in the summer of 2011. These trains will be used on routes Moscow - Berlin and Moscow - Kiev. The main objective pursued by “RZD”, wishing to bring equipment into operation is to reduce the time that road usually takes. As a result, the route from Moscow to Berlin should be about 18 hours, instead of the 27, and to Kiev - about 7 hours instead of 13. This happens due to the technical features of trains and the procedures of border and customs control on the way. Let us recall that the main technological features of the Talgo trains are a mechanism to automatically change the track width (without the stop-motion) from the national standard of 1,520 mm to European 1,435 mm and the system of tilting, which gives savings of 20-30 percents of the time due to the higher rate of passage of small radius curves.
Number of vessels going along the Northern Sea Route in 2012 will increase by 40% FSUE "Atomflot" in 2012 expects growth of vessels going along the Northern Sea Route by 40%, compared with the 2011. In 2011 820 tons of goods in transit was transported over the Northern Sea Route. Till the 18 of November 34 transit trips were made. In 2011 by NSR 2 million tons of cargo was transported by NSR. Let us recall that the FSUE "Atomflot" is intended to support the operation and technological service of nuclear icebreakers and auxiliary craft. The main activities of the company are providing icebreaking pilotage along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and in freezing Russian ports, sea transpoertation of containerized cargo at the atomic lighter carrier "Northern Sea Route", etc. zzzzz
In 2014 UN will introduce new standards for toxic emissions of vehicles Experts from the European Economic Commission of UN decided to implement new standards for toxic emissions of heavy vehicles engines, particularly trucks and buses. The purpose of this decision is to halve the content in the exhaust of harmful particles and contaminants such as hydrocarbons, non-methane hydrocarbons, methane and nitrous oxide. The new standards will be adopted in June 2012 and fully come into force in early 2014.
Main Department of the State Examination allowed construction of the third landing strip at Domodedovo Main Department of the State Examination of Russia allowed the construction of a new landing strip at the international airport Domodedovo. FAI "Main Department of the State Examination of Russia" in late 2011 issued a positive opinion on the project documentation, "Renovation and development of the airport "Domodedovo". Federal property (first and second stage)". In accordance with the project documentation and expert opinion the new landing strip will be located at a distance of 1837.5 feet parallel to the existing landing strip -2 to be decommissioned due to the reconstruction. Length of the new landing strip - 3,800 meters, width - 60 meters, which corresponds to a code designation - 4F (classification ICAO). Geometry characteristics and load-carrying capacity of the new landing strip will let accept all types of aircraft including the A380. On the new landing strip equipment that allows performing takeoff and landing operations in weather conditions, corresponding III A of ICAO category will be installed. The capacity of the flight zone of the new landing strip will be at least 45 take-off and landing operations per hour.
Rules fixing the basics of air traffic organization are approved Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation approved the rules fixing the basics of air traffic organization, order of dispatching and flight information service, warning system. Rules are binding on users of air space of Russia, air traffic services, carrying out air traffic services in their assigned areas and districts, other agencies and organizations involved in ensuring the safety of aircraft, except for users of the airspace and flight controls and the state aviation experimental aircraft in the airspace allocated for these types of aircraft, where the rules are applied on a mandatory basis for air traffic services of civil aircraft.
This year "cleaning of the Arctic" will be continued Arctic environmental cleanup program provides the future of one of the most promising areas of Russian economic development in the field of transport, infrastructure and mining. "United Russia" Party Project "Saint-Petersburg - the Sea Capital of Russia" is involved in the development of environmental measures aimed at elimination of the consequences of the previous economic activity in the Arctic. "The need for "a general cleaning of the Arctic "was noted in the resolution of the II International Conference "Environment", organized by the project last year. Our proposals were heard and at the initiative of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin the development and implementation of the program began, it was noted by the special representative of the Russian President on international cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic, Project Coordinator Arthur Chilingarov. The first results of this program and further measures to solve environmental clean-up in the Arctic problem, we will discuss at the III International Forum "Environment", which will be held from 29 to 31 of March in St. Petersburg". Let us recall that it is planned to allocate for a program to "clean the Arctic" from the federal budget more than 21 billion rubles up to 2015. This amount could be increased. Last year within the program thousands of containers of fuel and lubricants were shipped out from the archipelago of Franz Josef Land. A survey area was made, samples were taken, and a map of pollution was created. In 2012 professionals must justify the need and priority of environmental protection measures, offer technology and equipment which will be used to clean up, make a cost calculation of works to eliminate sources of negative impact. Territory where immediate action to clean-up is required will be included in the priority activities.
The safety of navigation on the inland waterways will be improved State Duma of the Russian Federation intends to pass a bill offering to introduce a number of mechanisms to ensure safety of navigation on inland waterways, as well as to enhance the effectiveness of state regulation of inland waterway transport. Direction of the State Duma on Public Relations reports that the bill proposed to introduce a safety management system of shipping companies, making it a mandatory condition for transportation. It is also proposed to strengthen the administrative responsibility for carrying out entrepreneurial activities in the field of transport without a special permit or with violation of the conditions specified in the license. In this case it is provided not only a fine for defaulting carrier, but the administrative suspension of activity for up to ninety days.
Great cleaning in the Arctic In 2012, one of the most vulnerable regions in the world will remain under close public attention. Project of general cleaning of the Arctic continues. He started working last year. It’s planned to allocate more than 21 billion rubles from the federal budget for its implementation until 2015. It is not excluded that the budget of the federal program would be increased. This year, professionals must justify the need and priority of environmental protection measures, offer technology and equipment which will be used to clean up, make a cost calculation of works to eliminate sources of negative impact. Territory where immediate action to clean-up is required will be included in the priority activities. Last year within this program in the archipelago of Franz Josef Land expedition worked. As a result of it was made the overall conclusion that the environmental situation on the islands of the archipelago is difficult. At the Franz Josef Land experts and equipment for the burning and pressing of empty barrels were brought. As a result, thousands of containers of fuel and lubricants were shipped out from the archipelago. A survey area was made, samples were taken, and a map of pollution was created. Now work to develop specific proposals for the remediation of Arctic lands is carried on. Also in Norway, a national campaign to clean up the coasts is being held. During the autumn of last year to volunteers have collected a huge amount of debris on 100 kilometers.
Russian Emergency Situations Ministry expects environmental degradation near industrial hydraulic works Russian Emergencies Ministry does not exclude environmental situation degradation at the locations of industrial hydraulic works in 2012. Industrial hydraulic works include storage of waste, tailings (a set of special facilities for storing or disposal of mineral processing wastes, called tailings), sludge (sludge - the waste product comprising the dust, and petty part, obtained as a precipitate during the washing of the ore material ), ponds, and drives technical, drainage and water slurry. "It's possible environmental degradation in areas where the industrial hydraulic works are ... in the Far East (Magadan Region, Khabarovsk Territory), Siberian (Buryat, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo Regions, Tuva), Urals (Sverdlovsk Region), Volga (Bashkortostan, the Nizhny Novgorod region), Northwestern (Vologda Region), Central ( Bryansk region) and South (North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria) federal districts ", it is said in a forecast of emergency situations in Russia in 2012, prepared by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia.
The State Duma will consider amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure of the Russian Federation, expending the rights of Russian sailors On the 13 of January 2012 the State Duma in the second reading will consider the draft federal law on introducing amendments to the Civil Procedure Code of Russia in part of ensuring judicial protection of Russian ships crew members in the payment of wages and other sums. This was reported in the media of the State Duma. The bill was introduced by the Russian Government and passed on first reading on the 18 of November 2011. After the law was adopted, the crew of the Russian courts will be entitled to apply to court for recovery of wages and other sums that are due for work on board of the vessel, the cost of repatriation and social insurance contributions, not only at the location of the organization-shipowner, but and the location of the vessel of the defendant's or home port, it is explained in a statement.
Ministry of Transport is preparing a measure to "a tax on CO2" did not increase the price of the ticket Russian Transport Ministry is preparing proposals to ensure that the introduction of quotas on greenhouse gas emissions by air would not increase the ticket price, the head of department Igor Levitin said. On the 1 of January, 2012 the European Union in order to combat climate change imposed with the fee for emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. All airlines flying to EU countries were prescribed to acquire quotas for emission of 85% of baseline emissions in 2010 for free, while the remaining 15% are paid for. About four thousand carriers from different countries get under this requirement. "We prepare a set of proposals that it would not affect the ticket price for passengers", Minister of Transport Igor Levitin said. Earlier, Brussels Airlines has raised the price of the tickets, thus shifting the costs of "tax on CO2" to passengers. According to Levitin, Russia should not be on the path of the imposition of unilateral measures, as the European Union did. In March, the U.S. Congress will consider legislation to ban the participation of American companies in the European quotes trading scheme.
In the seaport of Sochi a system of double customs corridor began to operate The double corridor system began working at the checkpoints of Sochi Customs in the Port of Sochi, on the border with Abkhazia. The main objective of innovation - the simplification and acceleration of customs procedures with respect to individuals. The double corridor system provides an independent choice by an individual, crossing the customs border, the customs declaration in writing items for personal use and selection of "green" or "red" corridor, depending on the presence or absence of the goods subject to written declaration. The movement to "green" corridor implies the absence of human goods, mandatory for written declaration. Sochi customs has a positive experience with this system: the "green" and "red" corridors are functioning successfully at the international airport of Sochi from September 2001. Application of the system in the international terminal of Sochi sea port is dictated by the increase in dynamics of arriving cruise ships and aliens.
"Aeroflot" and "Russian Technologies" signed an agreement of intent to lease 50 Boeing 737 NG JSC "Aeroflot - Russian Airlines" and the State Corporation "Russian Technologies" signed an agreement of intent with respect to operating leasing of 50 aircraft of Boeing 737 Next-Generation type. "Modern high-performance passenger aircrafts are purchased in connection with a major extension of "Aeroflot" to include a number of regional carriers, which were previously the aviation assets of "Russian Technologies",it is said in a statement. As it was previously reported, in September 2010, "Russian Technologies" and Boeing Corporation signed an agreement on the order of airliners B737 NG. "Aeroflot" will get them through the Company "Aviakapital-Service" - a subsidiary of the "Russian Technologies" on leasing of aircraft equipment. Delivery is expected in the period from September 2013 to 2017. 737NG aircrafts will come in versions B737-800 and B737-900 ER. Number of aircrafts of each modification will be determined by "Aeroflot" closer to the time of delivery. Boeing 737-800 seats up to 189 passengers, Boeing 737-900 ER - up to 215. Term of Lease - 144 months. The group of "Aeroflot" will operate the new Boeing aircraft, along with other contemporary domestic and foreign airliners on domestic routes as well as in overseas areas.
Installation of the railroad to the Elga deposit in Yakutia is complete New rail line in Yakutia was paved from the BAM (Ulak station) to the Elga coal deposit. About 321 kilometer of railroad tracks was laid and 76 bridges were built. Investment accounted about 40 billion rubles. “The opening of this passage to the Elga coal mining complex in 2012 will greatly facilitate the delivery of goods, which is needed to ramp up production, and it also allow to send coal produced from the mine by rail”, said the chairman of the board of directors of JSC "Mechel" Igor Zyuzin.
Vadim Tulpanov: "As senator I will be working on major St. Petersburg projects, which are needed in the federal support" The "United Russia" Party Project Director "Saint-Petersburg - the sea capital of Russia" Vadim Tulpanov, representing St. Petersburg Parliament in the Federation Council, as senator will promote St. Petersburg subway development, activation of work to prepare the stadium on Krestovsky island for the World Cup 2018, the project prolongation. Elected by the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly deputies as a senator Vadim Tulpanov told about the plans on new post. "I had the great honor to represent St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly in the upper chamber of the Federal Parliament. I hope that on this post I will be able to work effectively to be of benefit to my native city. I am well informed about all problems, and I know how solve them at the federal level. As member of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy, I'll be working on major St. Petersburg projects, which are needed in federal support. The first of all, it is the subway development and federal budget investment in financing of the new stations construction and the branches completion. Along with the speaker of upper chamber Valentina Matvienko, we intend to achieve a positive decision on this issue". Another important project for what I want to be in charge is the "St. Petersburg - the sea capital of Russia". Within the framework of its implementation very much was done - St. Petersburg Marine Facade was built, ferry lines were launched, 72 hours visa-free enter to St. Petersburg was introduced for cruise ship passengers. All of this contributed to growth of sea tourists, visiting our city. 40 subjects of the Federation have already participated in the project, because it includes not only the marine component, but a range of issues related to transport. In particular, today the measures concerning the transport modernization are discussed. Due to them the prime cost of bus passenger transportation in St. Petersburg could be reduced in half. Such pilot projects on transportation upgrading are already being implemented in Rostov, Pskov and Novgorod regions. I intend to support this initiative, as I understand, it is most likely that this goal will require significant financial resources from the budgets of both levels: from the regional one - to compensate costs of carriers, to upgrade the road, to renew rolling stock, and from the federal one - to construct new roads. Finally, there is one more city project, which I sincerely support - it is the stadium construction on Krestovsky Island. Alas, now works at the stadium are going very slowly. If we want that one of the semifinal matches of the FIFA World Cup in 2018 will be possible, it is necessary an emergency and operational involvement of federal funds. Therefore, my task, as a representative of St. Petersburg in the Federation Council, is interference in the resolution of this issue".
The State Duma is going to change the requirements for maintenance of airports A bill, amending the Air Code of Russia, concerning the maintenance and the reconstruction of Russian airports, limiting the shock-absorption period and the operation of aircrafts by30 years, was introduced in the State Duma. So, to secure the flights it is offered to implement the legal regulations on the state control for the quality of airport and for the compliance with the height of facilities adjacent to the airport. The explanatory note to the bill states that now the country has about 400 civilian airports and airfields with various forms of ownership. At the same time owners do not care often about their maintenance and reconstruction, because in the Air Code there are no relevant rules.
Five rescue centers will be built in the Arctic Russian Emergencies is planning to build five complex rescue centers in Dudinka, Murmansk, Naryan-Mar, Arkhangelsk and Nadym in 2012-2013. Another five will be put in operation in 2014-2015: in 2014, the similar centers will appear in Vorkuta and Tiksi, and in 2015 - in Chukotka: in Pevek, in urban-type settlement Providence, and in Anadyr. This was reported by a representative of the Department of Fire and Rescue Service Agency. In Russian Arctic zone there are nuclear power plants, points-based of nuclear-powered icebreakers and nuclear warships, chemically hazardous and inflammable objects, important elements of communication that can become sources of man-made disaster. 910 million rubles are allocated to construct complex rescue centers in the Arctic. Rescue centers will provide the mode of constant readiness and urgent response to any emergency in the region, their total number will be 974 people (590 - Land & Sea, 384 - Aviation).
Ecologists ask to conduct a parliamentary investigation on the project of the West Kamchatka shelf drilling Drilling and folowing collapse of “Kola” oil-rig should be the subject of a parliamentary inquiry. According to Kamchatka branch of the World Wildlife Fund, 47 non-governmental organizations addressed to the State Duma with such appeal. According to environmentalists, the "Gazflot" company, the «Gazprom» subsidiary, had holed illegally in the Sea of Okhotsk from the "Kola" platform. “The drilling project failed the state examination and had a negative opinion of the state environmental review at the start of drilling operations. That’s why civil society organizations demand organizing a parliamentary investigation of the whole exploring drilling project on the West Kamchatka shelf and of circumstances of happened tragedy, "- department representative said.
The EU excised airlines for exhaust emissions To fight against climate changes, since January 1, 2012 the European Union had excised for burning material emissions in the atmosphere. Thus, all airlines, flying to the EU countries, are obliged to obtain quotas for greenhouse gas emissions proportionally to their quantity of transportations, and to carry out monitoring, accounting and controlling emissions. Air carriers were ordered to acquire quotas on the emission in accord with estimate 85% from emissions in 2010 - free of charge, but rest 15% should be paid. The EU has assured that the allocation of greenhouse gas emissions for the aviators will reduce by 5%. According to the European Commission, air transportations are about 3% of exhaust emissions on the EU’s territory. Russian Transport Ministry offers to prohibit Russian airlines to pay quotas on greenhouse gas emissions. In general about 4000 air carriers from different countries should correspond to this demand.
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Airport "Sergei Diaghilev" will attract investors to Perm 
The situation at October Railways will be controlled by a new high-tech center
By year's end “Russian Railways” will launch new high-speed long-distance trains 
