Translated material
The new law banned the transport of oil to the Severomasput Courts under foreign flags
The new law banned the transport of oil to the Severomasput Courts under foreign flags. Amendments to the trade navigation code were signed by President Vladimir Putin, TASS reports. This may affect the work of oil and gas companies that ship oil in the northern ports.
Thanks to the amendments of the court floating under the state flag of Russia, they receive a number of exclusive rights: to carry out piloting wiring, sanitary, quarantine and other types of control, protection and preservation of the marine environment, icebreaker and ice pilot wiring in the water area of the Northern Sea Route. It is also indicated that only Russian ships can transport oil, gas and coal mined in Russia. In addition, a Russian ship will be needed for storing oil and oil products, natural gas (including in a liquefied state), gas condensate and coal.
It is also established that "the vessel acquires the right to voyage under the state flag of the Russian Federation from the date of its state registration, and can also be registered in one of the register of courts, provided that the classification and examination is conducted."
"Vedomosti" recall that Putin spoke of a meeting on the development of the Far Eastern Shipbuilding Complex "Zvezda".
The bill on the advantage of Russian courts in the provision of services on Severomorput was submitted by the Government in the State Duma back in August 2016. Then, however, there was no question that these rights would be exceptional.
In world shipping, registration of courts under foreign flags is a common practice. Some countries with convenient flags provide benefits for non-resident companies registering ships from them. It also affects the size of port fees and requirements for the minimum wage of sailors.
The interlocutors of Vedomosti suggested that the ban on the transportation of hydrocarbons along the Northern Sea Route Courts without the Russian flag may affect the work of oil and gas companies that ship oil in the northern ports and the shipping companies that serve them. The Lukoil oil company could not clarify what flags there are vessels that serve its deposits.
It is known that for the Yamal LNG enterprise, the Novatek company with partners ordered 15 Arctic class tankers, and at least one of them was registered under the flag of Cyprus.