The Government Commission on Legislative Activity approved amendments to simplify entry regulations for Russian cruise ships using Arctic and Far Eastern ports.

“The approval of the bill will allow tourists to visit additional attractive areas of the Far North and the Far East and will help develop the national tourism industry,” the official comment notes.

Today, Russian cruise ships are subject to border regulations at Arctic and Far Eastern Federal District ports. Ship crews are required to notify the authorities under an order of the Russian Federal Security Service. They have to obtain several documents, including collective passes for entering border areas, and to notify the authorities of the use of a cruise ship’s boats and launches.

However, the border requirements do not apply to foreign ships, and this provides them with certain advantages compared to Russian ships, the document reads, in part.

The draft bill suggested that the crews of Russian cruise ships be exempt from the relevant border regulations when entering Arctic and Far Eastern ports provided the concerned shipping company has notified the FSB’s border control divisions of the route, passengers and crew prior to the voyage.