69 
Axis shipping it could as reparations. A number of ships, mainly 
Liberty-class, were obtained under Lend-Lease. Decrepit was the term 
describing the condition of small old ships built in various countries 
during previous two to three decades. The war caused considerable 
damage to Leningrad, Murmansk, and a number of other ports, while 
such large ports as Odessa, Novorossiysk, Nikolayev, Tuapse, Tallin, 
and Riga were destroyed. 
The plan for the restoration and development of the Soviet economy 
approved in March 1946 envisaged for the merchant marine; the 
delivery of 400,000 tons of ships, accelerated repair of suitable ships, 
capital reconstruction of major ports, 2.2 times greater cargo turnover 
in 1950 compared with 1940, and a 2.5 times increase in production 
capacity of ship repair yards.® Actually in 1950 the Soviet merchant 
marine transported 33.7 million tons of cargo with a total cargo turn- 
over of 21.4 million ton-miles. The promised tonnage was not 
delivered, although the repair facilities were improved and port 
restoration had begun. The inability of the mercantile fleet to fulfill 
the plan was recognized in the Counsel of Ministers Decision 
of June 1, 1947 “on measures to improve the operation of the 
merchant marine and fulfillment of the state plan for transportation 
of cargo in 1947.” While this “stick” intensified somewhat an already 
tense situation in the industry, it could not and did not produce 
drastic improvements. 
Directives for the fifth 5 Year Plan (1951-55), adopted by the 
19th Party Congress in October 1952, devoted considerably greater 
attention to the merchant marine. The capital investments were in- 
creased, somewhat larger facilities for new constructions allocated, 
an intensified procurement of ships abroad approved, modernization 
of existing and construction of new shipbuilding yards and _ ports, 
planned. 
During the 1951-55 5-year period, the growth of the Soviet 
merchant marine exceeded that in the previous 5-year period by 63.8 
percent. More than half of the new ships received were Soviet built. 
In addition, many ships underwent major repairs, the last time such 
an approach was used on a large scale by the Soviet Union. In 1955 
the merchant marine carried 53.7 million tons of cargo with total 
turnover of 37.2 billion ton-miles.” 
In regard to the organization and management of the Soviet 
merchant marine, the Independent People’s Commissariat of Water 
Transport was organized in January 1931, incorporating the Soviet 
merchant marine and river transport. Previously, the merchant marine 
was subordinated to the People’s Commissariat of Transport Commu- 
nications. In April 1939, the Independent People’s Commissariat of 
Sea Transport (merchant marine) was organized. In March 1953, right 
after Stalin’s death, the Soviet merchant marine and river transport 
were again united in a single Ministry of Sea and River Transport. 
The organizational structure would undergo a final revision in 1964 
with the establishment of the All-Union Ministry of the merchant 
marine. 
69““Morskoy Flot’, No. 5, 1967, p. 6. 
70“Mforskoy Flot”, No. 6, 1967, p. 7. 
