The Federation Council has approved the procedure for the passage of foreign warships through the inland waters of the Northern Sea Route. A decision was made during the upper house plenary session on Nov. 30 that the status of a foreign warship will have to submit an application for permission to transit through internal marine waters.
“Permission is required no later than 90 days before the proposed passage, and also provides for the prompt suspension of the movement of these vessels by transmitting navigational warnings,” – explains a member of the Economic Policy Committee of the Federation Council Valery Ponomarev.
As Parlamentskaya Gazeta makes clear, no more than one foreign warship or other state vessel will be allowed to remain in the waters of the Northern Sea Route. At the same time, foreign submarines and other underwater vehicles will have to proceed on the surface and under their own flag.