Ballast water sampling in Ukraine has experienced many changes and updates through the years, with the last update informing that the ‘State Ecological Inspection for Protection of the Black Sea’ is closing down.
February 2020
It is reported that the Ukrainian Government is closing down the ‘State Ecological Inspection for Protection of the Black Sea’ as the responsibilities for testing the quality of the ballast water will be shifted to regional departments.
North Club’s local correspondent, Svertilov Marine Consulting, added that this move will be supervised by the Ukrainian Ministry of Environment, also advising that shutting down the current inspectorate will be a lengthy and complex process, so it may remain in operation during this period.
Ballast water sampling in the past:
2 September 2019
Local correspondent Dias has received advice on this new regulation from Ukrainian lawyers ANK. This is summarised as follows:
- Taking of samples should be conducted by the ecological inspectorate in the presence of the representative of the Maritime Administration, the Master of the vessel (or another authorized person) and the maritime agent (upon his consent). Therefore ecological inspectors can no longer attend unaccompanied.
- Onboard sampling location should be determined by the representative of the Maritime Administration in agreement with the ecological inspector and the Master.
- Sample bottles should be closed and sealed with special tags indicating the name of the vessel, date and time of taking samples, place of taking samples, number of sample and signatures of the representative of the Maritime Administration, the ecological inspectorate and the Master (or other authorized
person). - One sample shall remain on board, the second (‘control’) sample should be delivered to the Maritime Administration and the third sample should be delivered to laboratory.
- The control sample (Maritime Administration) shall only be held for 24 hours, after that it should be destroyed.
23 July 2019
Ukraine correspondents Dias have reported that on 13 July 2019, the country’s new president ordered the Head of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) to prohibit ecological inspectors from entering ports for two months.
This is a temporary arrangement pending a more permanent solution of the ongoing problems that arise through the attendance of ecological inspectors.
22 May 2019
It has been reported that the restrictions on the discharge of segregated ballast water have been lifted in Ukraine.
North’s Correspondents Dias explained that this action by the Ukrainian government is an effort to abolish unauthorised ecologists from enforcing fines on vessels within Ukrainian ports.
The new regulation stated that the State Ecological Inspection is forbidden to execute control of the control of segregated ballast. This will be until the Government adopts special procedures to regulate the conduct of ballast water inspections.
When the special procedures are adopted, the State Ecological Inspection will be entitled to check the level of ballast water pollution only in the comparison with background figures of the port. The method previously used was to compare the samples against a fixed pollution index and for suspended particles.
At that time, the Club’s correspondents advised that ecology inspectors continue to carry out unauthorised ballast water inspections. In addition, it was advised that if a Ukrainian ecology inspector attempts to detain a vessel as a result of a ballast water inspection they should immediately seek the assistance of local P&I representatives.
15 November 2018
To optimise customs procedures when moving goods across the Ukraine border, a “single window” mechanism was been adopted. This new mechanism was covered under a new law “On Amendments to the Customs Code of Ukraine” and impacts ballast water sampling by ecological inspectors.
This regulation aimed to simplify a vessels’ call to port and address any irregular practices by ecological inspectors.
16 July 2018
Ukrainian ecological inspectors had the authority to board vessels and take samples of ballast water.
North’s correspondent in the Ukraine had issued the following advice based on recent ballast water sampling inspections:
- Ensure that a ballast exchange is completed in the Black Sea while the vessel is still on passage.
- Allow the inspectors access as required to the vessel.
- Do not allow samples to be taken of any segregated ballast.
- Allow the inspectors to review records of ballasting operations if they request to see them.
- Never leave the inspector alone, ensure a member of the ship’s crew is present at all times.
- There are reports of inspector’s claiming to have spotted pollution in the harbor in and around the vessel. Should the Master have such an issue with the attending surveyor he should contact
- North or their correspondent immediately.
- The Master should then inform the inspector that they will arrange a joint survey of the waters around the vessel alongside a port state control representative, P&I representative and the ship’s officers. Should any evidence of pollution be noted at this time then samples from the ballast tanks will be permitted with all parties present.
