RF Ministry of Justice registers regulations for navigation in Northern Sea Route’s water area
On April 12, 2013 the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation registered the order No 7 of RF Transport Ministry dated January 17 “On adoption of Regulations for navigation in the water area of the Northern Sea Route.” The registration number is 28120, Transport Ministry says in its press release.
The Regulations for navigation in the water area of the Northern Sea Route have been elaborated in compliance with clauses 2 and 4 of Article 51 of the Federal Law No 81-FZ dated April 30, 1999 “Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation” and clause 5.2.53.12 of the Statute of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation approved by RF Government Decree No 395 as of July 30, 2004.
The Regulations set forth the procedure for arrangement of vessels’ navigation in the water area of the Northern Sea Route, rules of icebreaking assistance, rules of ice pilotage of vessels, rules of vessels’ convoying along NSR routes, provisions on navigational/hydro-graphic/hydrometeorological support of vessels, rules of radio communication, requirements related to safe navigation and protection of environment from ship-related pollution, other provisions concerning arrangement of navigation in Northern Sea Route’s water area.
The Federal Law No 132 “On amendments to specific legislative acts of the Russian Federation related to governmental regulation of merchant shipping in the water area of the Northern Sea Route” adopted on July 28, 2012 came into force on January 27, 2013.
The amendments introduced by the Law into the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation set forth a centralized state management of the Northern Sea Route ensuring safe navigation of vessels within the NSR water area and providing equal access for all interested carriers including foreign ones (in compliance with United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982), under authorization-based procedure.
The arrangement of navigation within the water area of the Northern Sea Route is attached to NSR Administration. The Decree of RF Government on establishment of a federal state-owned enterprise NSR Administration was signed on March 15, 2013. The major tasks of the Administration’s activities are to arrange navigation of vessels in the water area of the Northern Sea Route, ensuring safe navigation and protection of marine environment from ship-related pollution in the water area of the Northern Sea Route.
