Rules of Transport on Inland Waterways of the USSR RTIW

a normative act regulating transport on inland waterways. The RTIW were approved by the Council of Ministers of the USSR on Oct. 15, 1955. They set forth the basic tasks and duties of inland water transport agencies with respect to the carriage of freight and passengers along inland waterways, and they define the relations between inland water transport agencies and other branches of the economy.

The RTIW are divided into ten sections: general regulations; inland waterways and the fleet; ports, wharves, freight, and commercial facilities; the planning and organizing of shipping; transport of passengers, baggage, and mail; towage of rafts and ships; procedure for setting tariffs and fees; direct mixed transport and direct water transport in conjunction with other types of transport; responsibilities of steamship lines, shippers, consignees, and passengers; documents, claims, and suits.

Within the boundaries of the USSR, the RTIW are in force on the following: navigable rivers, rivers used to float timber, navigable lakes, the Aral Sea, and artificial waterways. For ships flying the flags of the USSR and the Union republics on foreign rivers, the RTIW are in force unless they are superseded by international agreement, custom, or foreign law applying to the territory within which the Soviet ship is sailing. The RTIW also apply to waterways along the border, with exceptions as set forth in special laws, in decrees of the government of the USSR, and in treaties and agreements concluded between the USSR and foreign nations.

As a supplement to the RTIW, and in accordance with the procedure established by them, other sets of rules are drafted and adopted. Examples are the Regulations for Navigation on Internal Waterways of the USSR and the Regulations for the Transport of Special Types of Freight.