The Ukrainian Sea Port authority (USPA) joined ESPO as an observer member. This development came after a decision of the General Assembly of ESPO, who gathered on May 30 for their assembly and for the annual conference in Rotterdam.
The Ukrainian Sea Port authority includes the following 13 Seaports, which are located on the continental part of Ukraine in the Black Sea and Azov basins, as well as the Danube Delta:
- Reni
- Izmail
- Ust-Danube
- Belgorod-Dniester
- Chernomorsk
- Odessa
- Yuzhny
- Nikolayev
- Olvia
- Kherson
- Skadovsk
- Berdyansk
- Mariupol
The total capacity of those 13 ports is approximately 240 million tons per year.
ESPO Chairman, Eamonn O’Reilly noted that the Black Sea is a very important part of Europe’s maritime network. For this reason, the Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the EU, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, will make Ukraine’s ports an important part of the wider European transport network.
Raivis Veckagans, CEO of USPA, said:
USPA is honored to join ESPO. Since signing the Association Agreement between EU and Ukraine, we have focused on connectivity of our transport infrastructures. Through the observer membership at ESPO, USPA is continuing governmental efforts to establish mutually beneficial cooperation with the European counterparts. We are glad to join European port community and are keen to actively participate in the forming the future agenda of the port&maritime industries.
