The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to create the Maritime Authority that would start operating from August 1, 2018, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan has said.
“The government resolution on the creation of the Maritime Authority from August 1, 2018 has been issued,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Government resolution No. 1095 dated September 6, 2017 on the creation of the State Service of Sea and River Transport of Ukraine has been posted on the government’s website.
The service will be the central executive body, whose activities are directed and coordinated by the Cabinet of Ministers through the Minister of Infrastructure, implementing the public policy in the fields of sea and river transport, merchant shipping, navigation on inland waterways, navigation and hydrographic provision of navigation, as well as in maritime security and river transport (except for the safety of navigation of ships of the fishing industry fleet).
According to the authority’s regulations, in accordance with the tasks assigned to it, it, in particular, ensures the preparation of proposals by the Ministry of Infrastructure for the conclusion, termination or suspension of action, denunciation and accession to international treaties on sea and river transport in Ukraine; concludes international treaties of Ukraine of interdepartmental character; develops a strategy for ensuring the fulfillment of the obligations of the state flag, the state port and the coastal state under international treaties in the field of merchant shipping and performs the functions resulting from these obligations; draws up proposals for the integration of the national sea and river transport system into the European and global transport systems and, in accordance with the established procedure, ensures this integration; carries out control over the implementation of international agreements of Ukraine on the safety of navigation and prevention of environmental pollution.
In addition, the authority exercises control over ensuring the security of transportation of goods, passengers and baggage by sea and river vessels; over the state of sea routes, the functioning of traffic control services and pilotage; carrying out rescue operations on sea and river transport, in the water area of seaports, the functioning of radio navigation and observation systems of the maritime mobile service; conducts checks of compliance of the port security systems; coordinates the activities of the captains of seaports within their authority; controls the conclusion of compulsory insurance contracts; conducts investigation and analysis of the causes of marine accidents and transport accidents on inland waterways of Ukraine; carries out licensing of economic activities for the provision of services for transportation of passengers, dangerous goods, hazardous waste by sea and river transport.
