Putin instructed to study the possibility of paid passage of ships in improved areas

Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed to provide for the possibility of introducing fees for the passage of inland water transport vessels in areas of major infrastructure projects. This is stated in published on the Kremlin website the list of instructions of the head of state following the results of the meeting on the development of river navigation.

According to the instruction, such a possibility should be provided for inland waterways, where major infrastructure projects are planned to be implemented to improve navigation conditions. The government and the commission of the State Council in the direction of “Transport” must submit a report by December 1, 2023.

It is clarified that the funds received should be used for the development of infrastructure facilities for inland water transport. The government also needs to determine the list of these projects.

In addition, the government needs to develop by December a route network of passenger traffic in the European part of Russia until 2035 and determine the required number and types of vessels, as well as annual traffic volumes. In addition, it is necessary to make a decision on the allocation of funds from the National Welfare Fund for preferential leasing of domestic ships and support the construction of at least 200 passenger ships. Preliminary, the President needs to report on this by October 2023.

In addition, the president gave a number of other instructions aimed at developing the infrastructure of river ports and berths, transport security on the water, providing tax incentives, etc.

The meeting was held on June 20 at the Northern River Station in Moscow. Then Putin took part in the videoconference mode at the ceremony of launching electric ships that will carry passengers along the Moscow River, and their carrying capacity will be 15,000-16,000 people a day.