Russia's Ministry of Transport announced on Friday, October 30, that a draft federal law restricting access to Russian seaports for older vessels had entered public consultation.
Under the proposal, port entry would be restricted for Russian-flagged ships older than 50 years and prohibited for foreign-flagged ships older than 40 years.
Older Russian-flagged vessels would have a transition period linked to the validity of their classification certificates, and entry would be barred once those certificates expire.
Foreign-flagged vessels over 30 years old would require annual confirmation of compliance with maritime safety and marine environmental protection requirements. The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping would issue the confirming document.
The ministry said assessments would consider timely completion of scheduled inspections, surveys and repairs, as well as the availability of insurance coverage.
The draft would also require contracts for the carriage of goods by sea to specify a vessel that meets safety requirements and holds valid evidence of survey. Marine terminal operators would become participants in the safety-responsibility chain.
If adopted, the law would enter into force 180 days after official publication. The ministry said the measures are intended to reduce accidents and environmental incidents and to encourage fleet renewal, including construction at Russian shipyards.
It said the different thresholds by flag are meant to discourage owners from transferring older domestic vessels to foreign flags to keep carrying Russian cargoes.
In July, the ministry estimated that by 2030 ships calling at Russian seaports would include 733 vessels aged 40–49 years and 335 aged 50 years or above, excluding river vessels.
Construction of replacement tonnage is under way, with United Shipbuilding Corporation cutting steel for its first unified-platform river-sea dry cargo vessel at Krasnoye Sormovo in September.
