MOSCOW, February 1 - RAPSI. The Federation Council approved on Wednesday the bill allowing vessel crews to sue employers at the vessels' whereabouts rather than where the employer has a registered office.

The bill also allows vessel crews to sue their employers for salaries and other payments in courts adjacent to the vessels' present location.

The Civil Code currently obliges vessel crews to file lawsuits according to the employer territory jurisdiction while prohibiting them to address the nearby courts.

Meanwhile, the Civil Code and the Supreme Court of Russia allow crews of foreign vessels to file lawsuits with the courts where their vessel is presently located.

"Russian sailors now have their legal rights prejudiced compared to their foreign colleagues. The bill is aimed to give Russian sailors equal rights," the bill authors say.