The navigable waterways in the European part of the Russian Federation cover a total of 72 000km, of which 18 000km are canals or canalised rivers and 10 000km are channels in natural lakes. This network provides routes across the continent linking five seas: the Baltic Sea, White Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Inland shipping accounts for approximately 3% of domestic freight movements in Russia measured in tonne-km. Freight is handled by 14 state-owned shipping companies reporting directly to the Ministry of Transport. (The 10 within Europe are listed below). Development of the vast potential for cruising in private boats is handicapped by the stringent regulations, and in particular by the obligation to take on board a professional pilot…