ABS has signed an agreement with the Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy (AMSMA) initiating a new cooperation between the two organisations. Based in St Petersburg, AMSMA has a total of nine faculties offering a wide array of marine- related courses including postgraduate studies and doctorate programmes. One of the main aims of AMSMA is to prepare the next generation of Russia seafarers to serve on Russia’s expanding commercial fleet. To date AMSMA is the only academic institution offering specific training courses for cadets serving on vessels transiting the North Sea Route.