Russia has imposed a ban on ships similar to the sunken Bulgaria riverboat until the causes of the tragedy are established, Transport Minister Igor Levitin said on Sunday.
A decision on further operation of these ships will be taken after the investigators' findings, Levitin said.
The 79-meter Bulgaria cruiser, built in 1955 and last renovated 30 years ago, listed onto its right side in a thunderstorm and sank within minutes on July 10 on the Volga River, killing at least 114 people.
There were reportedly as many as 208 people on board the twin-deck Bulgaria. As many as 79 people have been rescued while 15 people are still missing.
Russian authorities said the boat had no license to carry passengers, its left engine had a problem, and it was heavily overloaded.
Deputy Transport Minister Viktor Olersky has said that rescuers could raise the wreckage of Bulgaria cruise ship, which is lying at a depth of about 20 meters, some three kilometers from the shore, already on Sunday.
