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Post by Eva - The Event on Jan 15, 2014 20:24:06 GMT 1
Hej,
Jag har nu fått svar på de frågor jag mejlat till SXK:s ombud i Petersburg. Se nedan. Ett tydligt krav är att varje båt måste ha en rysktalande "qualified" person ombord. Han erbujder sig att agera som vår agent och ta hand om kontakterna med Ryssland. Jag har inte tidigare haft kontakt med honom, men någon av er andra kanske har det? Hur har samarbetet fungerat då? Hur tycker ni att vi går vidare?
What kind of papers and permissions will we need from Russian authorities?
- The Russian Canal Administration will expect you to present some information on both crew and boats.
How do we get these papers and permissions?
- I can collect the needed info from you and pass it to the relevant authorities.
Do we need a pilot in any part of the sailing? How, in that case, can we get a pilot?
- A boat sailing through Russian inland waterways must have at least one qualified Russian speaking crew on board.
Do you mean that every boat in the group need to have a qualified Russian speaking crew on board?
- Yes, for the time being it is one of the key conditions of the Canal authorities.
How can we get information about measurements for the canals, currents, tidewater and so on?
- I can help you get a set of charts with all the needed info.
Is it possible to visit Murmansk and perhaps other harbours at the Kola peninsula?
- Murmansk is known to be the most bureaucratic place in the Russian North. I would not recommend to go there for clearing in/or out to avoid possible complications.
Is it possible to visit Archangelsk and other places in other areas of the White Sea?
- Archangelsk is possible and much easier.
What is the best time of the year to do this sailing, considering the weather - are there risk for ice or strong winds for instance certain months?
- Mid June to late July
Do we need an invitation?
- Yes, you will need to apply for Tourist visa`s. I can help you get visa invitations from the authorized company.
Do we need an agent?
- An agent is recommended. I can act as an agent when needed.
What is the role of the agent?
- As I mentioned earlier it is recommended, not required. In principle you could try to do all the formalities by yourself. Normally the role of an agent is as follows:
-visa support;
-arrival formalities;
-communication with the relevant authorities;
-navigational support;
-etc.
Is it permitted to change crew in Russia?
- It is permitted. We can discuss the details later.
What do you think is best considering currents, weather and other aspect - to sail from Norway to Petersburg or from Petersburg to Norway?
- I would recommend St.Petersburg to Norway.
Why do you recommend Petersburg-Norway?
- You may have to wait longer for more comfortable passage from Norway. Clearing Customs/Immigration is more complicated as you enter Russia. You can do it yourself in the North but my presence might be of help if you enter from St.Petersburg.
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Post by Eva - The Event on Feb 22, 2014 13:21:19 GMT 1
Jag har nu mejlat lite till med Vladimir. Här är mina frågor och hans svar:
Dear Vladimir,
The work with the group sail around the Kola peninsula is progressing and there are a group of sailors that are interersted.
I have suggested that you should act as our agent in Russia, and I've got a positive response. I suppose this would mean some work for you, and now I wonder if you would like us to pay for this? In that case - how much?
Another question that have been discussed is the weather conditions at the Kola peninsula - do you know anything about common wind directions and windspeed during may-september in this area?
I also wonder if you can give us some information about the current in Neva. How strong is it during the same period of the year?
With my best regards
Eva
Dear Eva,
Good to hear from you again. Normally I charge 500Euros for my agent services for an individual boat. For a group of yachts the price per boat can be 250 to 300 Euros per boat(depending on the final number of boats).
The prevailing wind direction at Kola peninsula during the summer is NE. The weather is quite variable. Mid temp during summer is about +10 C.
The average current of the River Neva is 2 knots, the strongest current at Ivanovskiye rapids – 5knots.
Best regards,
Vladimir
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Post by Eva - The Event on Feb 23, 2014 1:05:35 GMT 1
Ytterligare info från Vladimir ang. Strömmen på Neva:
According to the Russian Rive Atlas, Volume 3 the average current within the River Neva varies between 1,6 and 2,7 kt (at the bridges). The strongest current is in the mouth of the Lake Ladoga(Koshkinsky fairway) and in the Ivanovskiye rapids - 5 to 7 Kt.
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Post by Eva - The Event on Mar 5, 2014 21:06:05 GMT 1
Hej,
Här kommer lite ny info från Vladimir. Det verkar som om själva pappersarbetet inte behöver påbörjas förrän i höst. Jag har svarat och bett om en tydlig planering med datum så att alla inblandade vet vad som måste göras vid vilken tidpunkt.
Han skriver också att han har kontakter i Vita havet, som kan fungera som underagenter. Här kanske vi bör samordna oss, Inge på Ottilia?
Så här skriver Vladimir;
Yes, I am willing to act as your agent for the group sail through Russian Inland Waterways. As far as Archangelsk and Murmansk, - I have my good contacts there and normally they work with me as sub-agents.
I will certainly need to have the list of potential visitors with characteristics of the boats and crew lists. For me it would be easier to communicate with the member(s) of the organizing committee.
It does not make much sense starting our main preparation works before Autumn 2014.
According to official regulations each boat needs to carry a set of charts and a River VHF radio on board. I can book charts and VHF from the local sources.
As far as Russian speaking crew – if such need arises I could try and recruit some local yachtsmen to join the project.
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Post by Eva - The Event on Mar 8, 2014 18:56:49 GMT 1
Ytterligare info från Vladimir. Han skriver bland annat att han ska ta upp med ryska myndigheter hur stor vår eskader kan vara. Också mycket information om vilka uppgifter han kommer behöva.
When do you need a first list of interested boats? And what would you like that list to contain?
- As I can see, so far you have a list of boats who are generally interested. At this stage we should probably just keep the record. Later(September-October) I would expect you to send me the list with the boats` names, number of crew, LOA, Beam, Draft and Air Draft.
What papers can we supply later? How much later?
-To arrange for Visa Support papers I will need to have detailed Crew Lists(1. Dates of the Visit(earliest arrival-latest departure); 2. Full Names(according to passports); 3. Dates of Birth; 4. Passport Numbers; 5. Nationality);
-To make all the needed prearrangements with the Canal Authorities I will ask the participants for Boat Certificate of Registry;
What papers must every boat get by themselfs and bring to Russia on the boat?
-Passports + 2 copies of front pages
-Visas + 2 copies
-Original Boat Certificates of Registry + 3 copies
-Sets of Charts of the Russian Inland Waterways(River Atlases Volumes 3 and 4)
Are there certain demands the boats must meet? I'm thinking for instance of engine power to get by the current in Neva?
-As far as current is concerned, there is one critical point on the River Neva which is easily overcome by the local yachts with 5 knots speed;
-Each boat must carry a Russian River VHF Radio on board;
Do you think there are a limit for how many boats we can be? I'm thinking about the size of possible harbours for instance.
- The limit on number of boats is to be discussed with the Canal Administration; I will be back with the answer later this month after meting with the Canal administration;
Can you tell me something more about what nautical competence the russianspeaking crew onboard need to have? What are the demands?
- According to the recent law a Russian speaking crew is supposed to have driving license to drive a pleasure boat of corresponding characteristics;
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Post by Eva - The Event on Mar 10, 2014 20:30:32 GMT 1
Lite mer frågor och svar mellan mig och Vladimir.
As a general plan we would like to settle on a route and timetable before the summer. We should also like to have clear picture of the demands on the boats and a rough estimate of overall costs for the participating boats before the summer. After the summer (august/september) will we hopefully know how many boats who wants to join the sail. We would then like them to commit themselves to the project and pay a fee. Then you can start your work. We can then send you a list of the boats with the information you need. What do you think about this plan? Does it suit you?
- Yes, it does.
Do you think it will be possible for us to get visa for the entire period? One of the sailors had experienced that it was only possible to get a visa to Russia for two weeks?
- For some reason the Russian embassy in Sweden is known to be quite formal about the visa period. It often concerns short visits to St.Petersburg. This time we have enough time to convince the visa department officers that we need maximum possible visa period(30 days) for the passage through Russia.
The demand of russianspeaking crew on every boats is a problem. Is there any possibility for us to engage one pilot for the entire group?
- In former days it was possible to engage one pilot for five boats. Regretfully, these days the Canal Authorities are no longer as cooperative as they used to be.
Will we need to have russianspeaking crew on every boat during the entire trip from Norway to St Petersburg?
- Russian speaking crew is required only for the Inland Waterways` part of the trip.
Do you know anything about the rules for sailing along the coast of the Kola peninsula? How close to the coast can we sail? I heard it would be possible to sail close to the coast - and even anchor - as long the boat hadn't formally cleared out from Russia.
- The latest amendments to the Russian law might have eased the situation in the Russian North same as in the Baltic region. To be honest I do not know how are things in practice as far as Barents and White Seas are concerned. Will keep it in mind and try to find out when such a chance appears.
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Post by Eva - The Event on Mar 23, 2014 20:57:43 GMT 1
Hej,
Här är lite mer info från Vladimir som han just mejlat mig.
I've got some more questions about the request that we shall have a russianspeaking member of the crew on every boat who have sufficient nautical competence to drive the boat ("driving license"):
I don't know if you are familiar with The Swedish Council for the Education and Training of Yachtsmen. They give diplomas to sailors and yachtsmen that use their boats in their spare time (not as professionals). Do you think their diplomas will be enough?
- If the diplomas are valid in Europe , they must also be accepted in Russia.
If you manage to help some boats with contacts with local yachtsmen - do you think there will be any costs for the boats to get this help? In that case - what costs?
- In theory you can find local yachtsmen who might like to join you for free, but I believe in most cases local yachtsmen will expect certain compensation for taking part in the project.
When you write that we will need to have russianspeakning crew onboard on the inland waterways - what do you mean exactly, is it all the distance St Peterburg - Belomorsk?
- According to the Russian Law a russianspeaking crew is required for the whole distance.
Some sailors have asked if it would be possible for us to have one pilot for the whole group through St Petersburg?
- In former days the Canal Administration would allow a group up to five boats to share a pilot. Regretfully, at present the Administration are not as cooperative as they used to be.
I've also got some other questions:
We've heard that it can be difficult to get drinking water and diesel during the sailing from St Petersburg to Archangelsk, do you know anything about this?
- Neither diesel nor drinking water(in 2,5 or 10litre bottles) is a problem within the distance – there are some fuel stations, bottled is available in local shops on your way.
How many days do you think the sailing from St Petersburg tol Belomorsk will take for a boat with average speed of 5 knots?
- The trip normally takes 10 to 14 days.
Is 30 days the longest possible time we can stay in Russia (I think about the timelimit for the visa you mentioned)? Or is it possible to get visa for a longer time?
- Normally 30 days Tourist Visa is more than enough to make the trip.
Do you know approximately how much harbour-fees, fees for locks and canals and other fees will cost for every boat?
- Harbour fees: St.Petersburg – approx 30 to 40Euros per night, smaller harbours – half of the St.Petsrsburg price;
- To go through St.Petersburg Bridges – approx 300 to 400Euros depending on the boat`s size;
- Canal Navigational fees – about 100Euros;
Are there any special things that we are not allowed to bring to Russia, apart from weapons, drugs and other obvious things?
- Some medicine(like codeine, etc.) are not permitted in Russia unless you show doctors prescription.
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