Transport Ministry suggests amending legislation on cargo transshipment beyond territorial sea of Russia

At the State Council Presidium meeting on developing transport infrastructure in the Southern Federal District chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, RF Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov suggested looking into introduction of amendments into the legislation on regulating ship-to-ship transshipment of cargoes beyond the territorial sea of the Russian Federation.

“The upward trend in ship-to-ship transshipment of cargoes, primarily oil products and grain, beyond the territorial sea of the Russian Federation has been seen recently. This is actually the situation in the Kerch Strait.

This activity is legal with all the customs procedures but it leads to reduction of cargo throughput at the ports of the Russian Federation and, consequently, to reduction of port charges and weaker control of ship owners. Navigation safety requirements are not followed as the operations are performed outside the port limits.

It is caused by insufficient regulation of legal relations in this sphere. Therefore, there is a suggestion to at least work on introduction of amendments into the legislation for regulation of such activities beyond the territorial sea of the Russian Federation,” said the Minister.