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FEDERAL LAW OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

of July 31, 1998 No. 155-FZ

About internal sea waters, the territorial sea and contiguous zone of the Russian Federation

(as amended on 05-12-2022)

Accepted by the State Duma on July 16, 1998

Approved by the Federation Council on July 17, 1998

This Federal Law sets the status and legal regime of internal sea waters, the territorial sea and contiguous zone of the Russian Federation, including the rights of the Russian Federation in its internal sea waters, the territorial sea and contiguous zone and procedure for their implementation according to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the conventional principles and rules of international law, international treaties of the Russian Federation and the Federal Laws.

Chapter I. General provisions

Article 1. Determination and borders of internal sea waters of the Russian Federation

1. Internal sea waters of the Russian Federation (further - internal sea waters) - the waters located towards the coast from initial lines from which width of the territorial sea of the Russian Federation is measured.

Internal sea waters are component of the territory of the Russian Federation.

2. Waters belong to internal sea waters:

ports of the Russian Federation, the limited line passing through the points of hydraulic engineering and other permanent constructions of ports which are most removed towards the sea;

gulfs, bays, lips and estuaries which coast completely belong to the Russian Federation, to the straight line drawn from the coast to the coast in the place of the greatest outflow where from the sea one or several passes is for the first time formed if width of each of them does not exceed 24 nautical miles;

gulfs, bays, lips, estuaries, the seas and passages with width of entrance to them more than 24 nautical miles which historically belong to the Russian Federation which list is established by the Government of the Russian Federation and is published in "Notices to seafarers".

Article 2. Determination and borders of the territorial sea of the Russian Federation

1. The territorial sea of the Russian Federation (further - the territorial sea) - the sea belt 12 nautical miles wide adjoining the overland territory or internal sea waters, measured from the initial lines specified in article 4 of this Federal Law.

Other width of the territorial sea can be established according to article 3 of this Federal Law.

2. Determination of the territorial sea is applied also to all islands of the Russian Federation.

3. The external border of the territorial sea is Frontier of the Russian Federation.

Internal border of the territorial sea are initial lines from which width of the territorial sea is measured.

4. On the territorial sea, airspace over it, and also sovereignty of the Russian Federation with recognition of the right of peaceful pass of foreign vessels through the territorial sea extends to bottom of the territorial sea and its subsoil.

Article 3. Delimitation of the territorial sea

Delimitation of the territorial sea between the Russian Federation and the states which coasts protivolezhat to the coast of the Russian Federation or are adjacent to the coast of the Russian Federation is performed according to the conventional principles and rules of international law and international treaties of the Russian Federation.

Article 4. Initial lines from which width of the territorial sea is measured

1. Initial lines from which width of the territorial sea is measured are:

the line of the greatest outflow along the coast specified on officially the sea maps published in the Russian Federation;

the direct initial line connecting the points of islands, reeves and rocks which are most removed towards the sea in places where the coastline is cut deeply up and twisting or where there is along the coast and in close proximity to it chain of islands;

the straight line drawn across the mouth of the river which is directly flowing into the sea between the points on its coast which are most acting in the sea in case of the greatest outflow;

the straight line which is not exceeding 24 nautical miles, connecting points of the greatest outflow of Items of natural entrance to the gulf or to the passage between islands or between the island and the continent which coast belong to the Russian Federation;

system of direct initial lines length more than 24 nautical miles connecting Items of natural entrance to the gulf or to the passage between islands or between the island and the continent which are historically belonging to the Russian Federation.

2. The list of geographical coordinates of the points determining provision of initial lines from which width of the territorial sea, contiguous zone of the Russian Federation is measured affirms the Government of the Russian Federation and is published in "Notices to seafarers".

3. Borders of the territorial sea and initial lines from which width of the territorial sea is measured are applied on sea maps of scale 1:200 000-1:300 000, and in case of lack of such cards - on cards of scale 1:100 000 or 1:500 000. Departures from the specified scales, the mappings of this area caused by specifics, are in some cases allowed by features of geographical conditions, degree of accuracy of initial materials or other reasons.

Article 4.1. Artificial islands, installations and constructions in internal sea waters and in the territorial sea of the Russian Federation

1. For the purposes of this Federal Law artificial islands are understood stationary fixed according to the project documentation on their creation in the location in internal sea waters, in the territorial sea of the Russian Federation as objects (artificially built designs) having alluvial, bulk, pile and (or) other not floating basic bases acting over water surface in case of the maximum inflow.

2. For the purposes of this Federal Law installations, constructions are understood flexibly or stationary fixed according to the project documentation on their creation in the location in internal sea waters, in the territorial sea of the Russian Federation as stationary and floating (mobile) drilling rigs (platforms), sea floating (portable) platforms, sea stationary platforms and other objects, and also underwater constructions (including wells).

Chapter II. Features of legal regime of seaports of the Russian Federation, internal sea waters and territorial sea

Article 5. Legal regime of seaports of the Russian Federation

1. The legal regime of seaports in the Russian Federation is single for all ports which are in the territory of the Russian Federation.

The legal regime of seaports taking into account climatic, hydrological and meteorological features is established by this Federal Law, other Federal Laws, other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation applicable to seaports.

2. Seaports appear open for calling of foreign vessels based on the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation.

The list of the seaports open for calling of foreign vessels is published in "Notices to seafarers".

3. The official regulating calling of courts seaport and exit of courts from seaport and who is responsible in seaport for safety of navigation is the captain of seaport.

4. Ceased to be valid

5. Functions and powers of the captain of seaport are established and regulated by this Federal Law, other Federal Laws and other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation applicable to seaports.

6. The officials of federal executive bodies and officials of executive bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation who are in seaport approve the actions with the captain of seaport only if actions of the specified officials affect competence of the captain of seaport.

7. All Russian and foreign vessels shall observe legal regime of seaports.

Article 6. Calling of foreign vessels seaports

1. All foreign vessels, except warships and other national courts operated in non-commercial purposes irrespective of their purpose and patterns of ownership (further - foreign vessels) can come into the seaports open for calling of foreign vessels.

2. Concerning the courts floating under the flag of foreign state, registered in the register of the courts of foreign state operated on the property right or other legal causes by person connected with foreign state which final beneficiaries of activities are persons somehow connected with foreign state in which there are restrictions of calling their seaports on the courts floating under National flag of the Russian Federation, registered in one of registers of the courts of the Russian Federation operated on the property right or other legal causes by person connected with the Russian Federation which final beneficiaries of activities are persons somehow connected with the Russian Federation, the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation response restrictions can be set.

The procedure for preparation and decision making about introduction and (or) about cancellation of the response restrictions provided by paragraph one of this Item affirms the Government of the Russian Federation.

3. The criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction of the Russian Federation extends to foreign vessels and the passengers and members of crews who are on their board during stay of the specified courts in seaports.

4. Foreign vessels when calling seaports, during stay in the specified ports and in case of exit from them shall observe:

the legislation of the Russian Federation concerning safety of navigation and traffic regulation of courts, assistance and rescue, use of radio communication, protection of navigation aids, the equipment and constructions, underwater cables and pipelines, carrying out sea scientific research, studying, use and protection of water objects, subsoil, water biological resources and other natural resources of the territorial sea, environmental protection and providing ecological safety, and also preserving, use, promoting and the state protection of objects of cultural heritage (historical and cultural monuments) of the people of the Russian Federation (further - objects of cultural heritage);

the boundary, customs, tax (fiscal), health, immigration, veterinary, phytosanitary, navigation and other regulations established by the laws of the Russian Federation and other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation;

the rules established for seaports;

the rule of entrance to the seaports, stay in them and departure from them of foreign citizens and stateless persons operating in the territory of the Russian Federation;

other rules established by the legislation of the Russian Federation and also the international standards and standards established by international treaties of the Russian Federation.

5. Exit of the foreign vessel from seaport is made only with the permission of the captain of seaport in coordination with officials of federal executive body on safety and officials of customs authorities.

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