The Federal Law aims to bring the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation in accordance with the requirements of the administrative reform of the federal executive authority system and the provisions of international agreements on merchant shipping.
In particular, the Federal Law provides for adding a new chapter to the Code, Responsibility for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, in accordance with the [International] Convention on [Civil Liability for] Bunker Oil [Pollution Damage], of which Russia is a participant.
The articles of the Code reflect the provisions of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, which provides for a uniform definition for measuring a ship’s tonnage, as well as provisions of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
The Law also brings provisions of the Code in accordance with the Labour Code and the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation.