OREANDA-NEWS. The Ministry of Transport of Russia proposed to oblige domestic oil and gas companies to use ships flying the Russian flag for the transport of export cargo and the exploitation of offshore fields.

According to the newspaper Kommersant, this idea was discussed on February 19 at the Marine Board under the Government, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov. The agency considers that the strategic planning documents should be amended and state-owned companies should give an advantage to the Russian fleet when concluding agreements on the sale of energy resources.

Borisov instructed the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture to work out this issue till mid-April. The Deputy Prime Minister called proposed measure “frankly protectionist” but noted that these ideas were “substantiated and convincing.”

The Ministry of Transport did not clarify which percentage of cargo will be assigned to the fleet under the Russian flag, and when the measures will come into force.