The Russian State Duma has passed the third and final version of a bill regulating the navigation of foreign tourist liners in Russia's inland waters and the territorial sea, RIA Novosti reports. Foreign cruise lines will have to notify Russian authorities of their Arctic and Far Eastern routes.

According to the law, foreign vessels with tourists onboard entering one or several ports, without taking on other passengers or freight, shall have the right to navigate inland waters and the territorial sea of the Russian Federation after their passengers and crew are subjected to border and customs clearance. This concerns only those ports that are open to foreign vessels, except restricted and temporarily dangerous areas.

The crews of these vessels must obtain tourism licenses from Russian authorities.

At the same time, foreign tourist liners can only enter ports or destinations in the Arctic zone or the Far Eastern Federal District that are on a government-approved list, and they must stipulate their routes between these ports or destinations.