RF Government proposes amendments to a bill on extension of ‘cabotage’ concept in Russia’s Merchant Shipping Code
RF Government proposes amendments to a the draft federal law No 1155137-6 “On introduction of amendments into Article 4 extension of the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation in the part related to cabotage”, says official website of Russian Government.
The draft federal law No 1155137-6 was submitted to the State Duma by RF Government on 19 August 2016 and proved in the first reading on 13 January 2017.
According to the draft law, cabotage covers shipping and towing not only between the seaports of Russia but also between the seaports and other places of loading/unloading, artificial islands and structures on the continental shelf of Russia.
According to the statement, that will ensure the priority of ships sailing under the flag of the Russian Federation.
With the new amendments, shipping and storage of hydrocarbons and coal loaded onto vessels in the water area of the Northern Sea Route can be only performed by vessels flying the state flag of the Russian Federation.
The amendments have been developed by the Ministry of Transport to comply with the instructions of RF Government following the meeting on large scale projects for the development transport infrastructure in the northern regions of Russia held on 21 April 2017 in Murmansk.
The amendments also provide for RF Government’s decisions determining other water areas within exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Russian Federation where shipping/storage can be performed only by vessels under the flag of Russia.
The document (in Russian) is available here >>>>
