The Ukrainian Seaports Authority has announced a new vision for development of the Ukrainian ports located on River Danube. The new vision provides for a special approach to the issue of tariffs and port charges.

The Ukrainian Seaports Authority’s head of Raivis Veckagans announced this during a visit to the Izmail, Ust-Danube, and Reni seaports.

"The Ukrainian Seaports Authority system consists of 13 branches in seaports, and it is natural that we take a differentiated approach to planning the strategy for each one of them. The undoubted principle in this case remains increase of efficiency and competitiveness. Therefore, in relation to the ports in the Danube region, we are taking a specific approach to calculation of port charges and developing a different tariff policy that will be interesting to businesses and the state," said Veckagans.

In addition, Veckagans said that the absence of an ice-class tug for operation in icy conditions was an acute problem for the Danube region.

"We will move toward increasing cargo traffic, attracting new customers, and, consequently, reducing overhead and administrative costs. A port should be a territory in which it is profitable for a business to operate, locate production, develop high-tech products, and create added value. That is how all major ports in the world develop, and it would be appropriate to Ukraine to apply this experience at home, guided by a balance of the interests of the state and business," Veckagans said.

As the CFTS earlier reported, the Ukrainian Seaports Authority recently announced plans to expand the list of engineering and construction companies that will be able to participate in tenders for reconstruction of berthing infrastructure in Ukrainian seaports. It plans to involve not only Ukrainian companies, but also contractors from other countries – Turkey, Bulgaria, Poland, China, and others – in such engineering works.