This project was worked out jointly by Finland, Estonia and Russia and is part of the system of navigation controlling in the Gulf of Finland.
According to officials of Finland's Maritime Directorate, in the past few years the passenger and cargo flow in the Gulf of Finland has been continually increasing. About 6 million passengers are carried every year. Furthermore, in connection with the construction of new oil ports in the Gulf of Finland by Russia, in expert opinion, the volume of oil transportation will increase from 77.6 million tons to 156 million tons a year in 2010.
The Directorate officials note that these factors boost the risks of wrecks which can result in a loss of human life and environmental disasters. The purpose of the introduction of the new system is to diminish such risks.
In accordance with the new vessels' registration system approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), all ships with a tonnage of over 300 tons, while entering the Gulf of Finland, are duty-bound to provide detailed information on their route and cargo, which goes to the joint database of Finland, Russia and Estonia. This will make it possible to trace the movement of all ships, and to promptly assist them in an emergency.
