The Japan P&I Club has previously informed about the Ballast Water Inspection Problems in Ukraine and has now issued an updated to inform about the different amendments to the ecological and radiological legislation.
In September 2015, while two vessels were loading grain at two private terminals in Ukraine – Nibulon and Nikaterra of Nikolaev port, local ecological inspectors used fake arguments to claim that both vessels had polluted the sea surface near the terminals.
There are now into force the following amendments to the ecological and radiological legislation:
1. The ecological control will be carried out only in cases when the visible swimmer particles are coming out from the vessel and visible traces of the oil and other pollutants are on the sea surface which resulted actual water deterioration in the area of waste interception in comparison with the backgrounds in this area.
2. The radiological control of the vessels canceled.
3. The Orders comes into force after 30 days from the official publication.
The Club says that during recent period, its correspondent was involved into the incident at Nikolaev Nikatera terminal when authorities tried to blame the vessel for the alleged pollution, starting criminal investigation against the Master in order to have access on board for control ballast and other systems, checking log books etc and trying to prove that the vessel ballast is not isolated. The State prosecutor and police investigator also as some ecologists tried to press the vessel/ the Master. The correspondent’s involvement prevented delay/arrest the vessel and losses of the Owners/Club.
Source: Japan P&I Club
