Russia prepares law on Northern Sea Route

The legislative document will lay down the main requirements for sailing along the route, among them environmental regulations for the ships using it. Considering the vulnerable environment in the area, the law will strictly forbid the discharge of environmentally harmful substances. A group of inspectors will have the power to expel ships from the route should they fail to observe the regulations.

The Northern Sea Route is included as a priority both in the Russian government’s national social and economic development programme for the period up to 2020 and in the new Russian National Security Strategy.