The Russian State Duma plans to vote today on the reform of inland waterway transport management and will most likely approve the bill. Deputy chairman of the Duma Transport Committee Vitaly Efimov made a report on the bill and recommended the adoption of the bill.
"According to legal opinion, there are no comments on the draft law. Today is the anniversary of the Bulgaria (passenger boat) tragedy and we have to report to the victims' families that we’ve taken all possible steps to prevent this in the future through the adoption of this bill," Efimov said.
On July 6, 2012 the State Duma endorsed in second reading the bill on the improvement of management of inland waterway transport, as well as on improving the effectiveness of enforcement activities related to the safe operation of vehicles.