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The Federal Law, in particular, introduces changes to the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation, which now grant an exclusive right to vessels sailing under the State Flag of the Russian Federation to transport by sea oil, natural gas, gas condensate and coal produced in the Russian Federation or in an area which is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation and loaded onto vessels located in the Northern Sea Route area.

At the same time, the Government of the Russian Federation has the right to make decisions regarding the aforementioned cargoes, transported by sea and using vessels sailing under flags of foreign states, if this does not contradict universally recognised principles and standards of international law, international treaties of the Russian Federation and decisions on the sea transportation of other cargoes in other water areas using vessels sailing under the State Flag of the Russian Federation.

The Federal Law regulates how vessel documents are issued, including electronically. For vessels bought outside the Russian Federation, the law eliminates the necessity to receive in one of Russia’s consular institutions a temporary certificate on the right to sail under the State Flag of the Russian Federation and which would remain valid until the state registration of the vessel occurs.

The corresponding amendments shall be entered into a number of legislative acts including the Federal Law The Consular Statute of the Russian Federation.