The Ukrainian government has submitted to parliament a draft law aimed at reforming maritime and inland waterways shipping, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development said.
Key details
The draft law, registered as No. 14344, proposes amendments to several legislative acts governing commercial shipping and inland water transport. These include the Merchant Shipping Code of Ukraine and the laws on transport, inland water transport, and seaports.
According to the ministry, the bill seeks to improve the legal framework for organising shipping and strengthening the state system of maritime and inland navigation safety. It also aligns Ukraine’s shipping regulations with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international treaties.
Administration and port governance
The document revises the functions of the Shipping Administration and clarifies the legal status and powers of port captains. Port captains are designated as key organisers responsible for navigation safety within their assigned waters. The bill also clearly separates the powers of port authorities and port captains to eliminate overlaps and conflicts of competence.
Safety, control and infrastructure
The proposed legislation restores scientific and analytical activities in the field of navigation, introduces an international security regime for ships and ports, and improves vessel control mechanisms in seaports. It also updates regulations on marine pilotage, vessel traffic management, and qualification requirements for inland navigation crews.
In addition, the bill refines the classification of inland waterways of a maritime nature, introduces waste management requirements for ships in seaports, and simplifies administrative procedures by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers.
Seafarers certification and qualifications
The draft law provides updates and clarifications on seafarer certification. This includes certification rules for crew members of fishing vessels and ratings serving on all types of ships.
It introduces a comprehensive list of crew positions on sea-going and inland vessels that are classified as regulated professions under Ukraine’s international obligations or EU legislation and therefore require certification.
The bill further improves qualification requirements for deck crews on inland navigation vessels. These changes cover job positions, qualification documents, issuance procedures, exemptions, validity periods, as well as age and medical fitness requirements.
Next steps
The ministry said the draft law is part of Ukraine’s commitments under the EU Association Agreement and the Ukraine Facility initiative. If approved by parliament, it will launch a large-scale reform of state governance in maritime and inland water transport.
