OREANDA-NEWS. June 09, 2011. Dmitry Medvedev signed Federal Law On Amendments to Article 87 of the Merchant Shipping Code.

The Federal Law aims to execute the Resolution of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of April 6, 2004.

The Resolution states that certain provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 87 of the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation, which is in the normative unity of the Government Executive Order of July 17, 2001 On the Activities of Non-Governmental Organisations in Piloting Ships, have been found to be inconsistent with the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

The Federal Law stipulates that pilotage in seaports that have water areas contiguous with naval bases or areas where warships are based, as well as seaports where hazardous and noxious substances constitute over 50% of the total cargo handling volume, shall be performed by state organisations.