Tag: Ukraine

Over 50 local crewing agent participants signed up Crewing agents in the Ukraine registered their backing for a key international convention on seafarers' rights at a seminar in the Ukrainian seaport of Odessa last month.Over 50 local crewing agent participants signed up to the Odessa Accord, pledging their support for the Maritime Labour Convention (MCL) at the event on 24 July, which focused on the convention's requirements on recruitment and placement.Organised by the ITF-affiliated Maritime Transport Workers' Trade Union of the Ukraine (MTWTU) in collaboration with the ITF, the International Maritime Employers' Council (IMEC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), key speakers included, Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, ILO director of labour standards, Stephen Cotton, ITF maritime coordinator, Giles Heimann, IMEC secretary general and Rajesh Tandon, V-Ships operations manager.Cotton paid tribute to the importance of the Ukraine as a source of "quality seafarers". "The objective is to stamp out the bad competitors who give Ukrainian agencies a bad name and to secure an open commitment to upholding the convention's standards and protecting the future of the Ukrainian maritime industry," he said.Agents, who had previously voiced concerns, conceded that the convention would be important for Ukrainian seafarers and those involved in their recruitment and ...

The project means deepening passage channels and port waters to 21 meters Yuzhny Merchant Sea Port awarded ChernomorNIIproekt with the contract for developing the project for expansion of existing channels, upgrade of 4 berths and turning basin.The Ukrainian port of Yuzhny is implementing the dredging project, the state-owned stevedore company said. Yuzhny Merchant Sea Port awarded ChernomorNIIproekt with the contract for developing the project for expansion of existing channels, upgrade of 4 berths and turning basin.The project means deepening passage channels and port waters to 21 meters.The need for dredging the harbor was discussed back in 2008. The project was part of the port's expansion program approved by the Ministry of Transportation and Communication in 2009.However, due to the economic crisis, the project was delayed.In October 2010, Corporate Solutions elaborated and presented the feasibility study of the port's expansion, which was funded by the EU Commission in the framework of technical assistance.In May 2011 the company announced a tender won by ChernomorNIIproekt.On June 20 the document was handed over to the Customer. Now the documents are undergoing public examination."With the depths of 21 m, we could completely load or unload 200,000dwt and 19,5m draft ships just at our berths, without ...

20% VAT is already being charged on all port services On 4 June 2009 the Ukrainian parliament passed a law concerning VAT charges on "port dues" (meaning tonnage, canal, sanitary, wharfage, administrative, light and anchorage dues where applicable) for vessels calling Ukraine.Unfortunately, the wording of the law was unclear and left open questions as to whether the lifting of VAT exemption on "port dues" wouldencompass all vessels oronly be applicable to vessels calling Ukrainian ports for purposes other than cargo operations (i.e. bunkering, provisions, repairs) or engaged in cabotage voyages.Due to the absence of an official clarification from the fiscal administration themajority of Ukrainian portsstarted implementation of VAT charges in accordance with their own interpretation of the official Ukrainian legislation.In order to resolve this issue the Ukrainian parliament passed Decree 3387-V2 on 17 June 2011 applying 20% VAT on all "port dues" effective 1 July 2011.For members' guidance the 20% VAT is already being charged on all "port services" related to ships calling at any Ukrainian port. This applies to mooring operations, pilotage services, tugboat services and all services related to the arrival and sailing of ships (arrival-sailing formalities, night watchmen, etc).Source: Economou International Shipping Agencies Ltd

Anti-piracy operations at sea and on shore will be a major part of the exercises Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Monday launched the Sea Breeze 2011 military exercises in South Ukraine's Odessa and Nikolaev regions.Naval, land and air exercises under the title "Planning and carrying out the international peacekeeping operations" will be held till June 18. International anti-piracy operations at sea and on shore will be a major part of the exercises.The drills will involve around 2,400 navy personnel from 15 countries, including Ukraine, the United States, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Britain, Algeria, Denmark, Georgia, Canada, Macedonia, Moldova, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey and France.Ukraine's Air Forces, Military Service Law Enforcement of the Armed Forces, State Border Service, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergencies will take part in these exercises.A total of 15 ships, boats and auxiliary vessels of the Ukrainian Navy, five boats from the State Border Service of Ukraine, two U.S. ships, four Turkish ships and one ship from Georgia will take part in the exercises.The military exercises have been conducted in Ukraine annually since 1997 except 2006 and 2007 when they were canceled due to anti-NATO protests in Ukraine.Source: Xinhua