The Ministry of Infrastructure sees no reason for the number of ship calls to the Ukrainian seaports to reduce following the imposition of martial law in the country. This was announced by Oleksandr Basiuk, the director of the ministry’s department of reform and operation of maritime and river transport.

"We see no threat of reduction of the number of ship calls to Ukrainian ports in general as a result of the imposition of martial law," he said during “Infrastructure Day” at the European Business Association in Kyiv on Tuesday, the CFTS reports, citing the Interfax Ukraine news agency.

However, according to him, insurance companies may increase the cost of risks, which may affect freight costs.

"The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, which was adopted as an amendment to the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, exists. This is common international practice. We are increasing the level of port security. Accordingly, a ship that enters has its own security level," he said.

According to Basiuk, the period and thoroughness of inspections of vessels could increase.

Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelian said that problems could arise in relation to ship calls to seaports in the Azov region, primarily because of Russian violation of the rights of commercial vessels to pass freely through the Kerch Strait and the Sea of ​​Azov.

"At the same time, each port has its own products. That is, it is rather difficult logistically to transfer products from another region or redirect products that are shipped from Mariupol and Berdiansk to Odesa," he stressed.

According to the minister, loading and unloading operations in seaports on the Sea of ​​Azov are currently being performed without hindrance.

“In the future, we will monitor and react. We are monitoring the situation online because what Russia did on November 25 can be repeated at any second,” Omelian said.

As the CFTS reported earlier, the Ministry of Infrastructure has ordered introduction of additional measures to ensure protection of infrastructure.