236 
operations of the MMF, but does indicate the types of considerations 
and calculation that are taken into account. 
The MMF has all union status, and as the central organ of state 
administration, has jurisdiction over the merchant fleet and shore 
based support operations. It has undergone reorganizations similar 
to those of other ministries. Soon after Stalin’s death, it was merged 
with the Ministry of River Transport and called the Ministry of 
Maritime and River Transport. In 1954, it was separated into an 
independent ministry. Two years later, the Ministry of River Fleet 
was again united with the Ministry of Maritime Fleet. The reorganized 
Ministry of Maritime Fleet was one of a handful of ministries that 
was not abolished in Khrushchev’s 1957 reforms. 
The MMF makes decisions affecting fleet development and 
technological progress. It also oversees the operations of the lower 
administrative hierarchy. It is headed by a staff in Moscow and subdi- 
vided into main administrations, administrations, and sectors for 
management purposes. They have supervisory, functional or opera- 
tional duties. 
Extrapolating from a description of its Polish counterpart, the Minis- 
try of Foreign Trade and Maritime Economy, the MMF can be seen 
as having extensive responsibilities. In addition to joint responsibilities 
with other ministries and agencies, the Polish ministry is in charge 
of drafting forecasts and programs for development; drafting multiyear 
and annual plans; establishing directions of scientific research; con- 
ducting interministry and international cooperation on the exchange 
of information and joint scientific research; fixing prices and fees 
for services and goods produced by the enterprises of the maritime 
economy; establishing tasks and allocating resources for industrial as- 
sociations and organizational units; and others. 
The Ministry of Maritime Fleet is headed by a collegium composed 
of the minister as its chairman, and a number of deputies and chiefs 
of main administrations. The staff’s experience and expertise is impres- 
sive and would carry weight, particularly in decisions on technical 
issues. From 1954 to his retirement at the age of 67 in 1969, Victor 
Bakaev was Minister of the Maritime Fleet. Bakaev was trained as 
an engineer and specialized in port operations and constructions. He 
held a number of academic positions and was appointed Deputy 
Minister of the Maritime Fleet in 1945.9! Since 1970 Timofei Guzhen- 
ko has been Minister. He has worked as an administrator and engineer 
in shipping since 1942. From 1966-1970 he served as the First Deputy 
Minister of the Maritime Fleet. He has also worked in the communist 
bureaucracy and from 1962-1966 was on the staff of the CPSU Cen- 
tral Committee. His connection with Communist Party work may give 
him additional influence in policy considerations. The other 12 mem- 
bers of the collegium have served at their posts since the mid 1950’s 
and 1960’s.% 
*°““Competence of the Minister of Foreign Trade and Maritime Economy’? Warsaw Dzennik Ustav 
May 8, 1974. In ‘“‘Joint Publications Research Service’’ 933/62521 (July 19, 1974), pp. 48-9. 
” David Fairhall, “‘Russian Sea Power” (Boston: Gambit Incorporated, 1971), pp. 105-6. 
®2United States Joint Publications Research Service. Contemporary Biographies from the Large 
| Soviet Encyclopedia Yearbook for 1971. n.p. JPRS 56376-79, p. 101. I. S. Isakov, Fleet Admiral of 
| the Soviet Union was appointed Deputy Minister of the Maritime Fleet in the mid 1950s and ap- 
lpdventhe carried interservice interests. He played a major role in the preparation and implementation 
of the MMF decision in 1955 to intensify scientific research work. Shadrin, ‘Development of Soviet 
Maritime Power,” p. 343. Citing TsNIIMF Transactions, Vol. 133, pp. 7-10. 
