Navigation companies, the majority of which was founded in the middle of the XIX – beginning of the XX centuries, are still working successfully. Their emerging can be explained by development of trade, both domestic and international. Dictionaries define a navigation company as “a water transport entity performing shipping of goods and passengers by means of transport vessels”. In general terms, navigation companies are to ensure navigation and management of all associated economic processes. By location, navigation companies can be sea, river and lake.

Currently in Russia, navigation companies are one of the largest ship-owners effecting nearly all sea transportations. Besides, they own ship-repair and shipbuilding facilities and ports.