The Ministry of Development of Ukraine and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are enhancing their collaboration to ensure the security of Ukrainian ports and the waters of the Black and Azov Seas. Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction, Oleksiy Kuleba, held an important meeting with IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez, where they discussed key areas for cooperation to improve maritime safety in the region.
This was Arsenio Dominguez's first visit to Ukraine.
Also present at the meeting were First Deputy Minister Aliona Shkrum, Deputy Minister Andriy Kashuba, and Deputy Director of the IMO Maritime Security Division, Ismael Cobos Delgado.
Oleksiy Kuleba stated, “I am pleased to welcome Secretary General Dominguez to Ukraine. It is vital for us to continue working together to ensure safe navigation, preserve human life, and maintain ecological safety. Protecting our ports is not only a matter of economic stability but also global food security. Since the launch of the Ukrainian Maritime Corridor, we have transported 109 million tons of cargo, of which 70 million tons are grains. More than 4,000 vessels are delivering food to Africa, Asia, and Europe. The world counts on us.
It is also crucial to continue pressure on Russia's shadow tanker fleet. Today, despite the sanctions imposed, it continues to transport oil worldwide, financing terror and war against Ukraine.
I want to thank the IMO for its ongoing support for Ukraine. We believe that together we can achieve the primary global goal of the IMO: ensuring safe navigation and a high level of protection for those who work at sea,” Kuleba noted.
Aliona Shkrum outlined the major losses in the maritime sector since the onset of the full-scale invasion, including 385 destroyed port infrastructure facilities, 31 affected civilian vessels, and 98 injured port workers.
The Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of a strong position from the IMO to better protect Ukraine's port infrastructure in the future. Following the attacks on the Odesa Sea Port on March 11, where a ballistic missile severely damaged the vessel "MJ PINA" and resulted in the death of 4 Syrian citizens, Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez condemned the killings of seafarers.
During the meeting, he assured the Ministry of Development team that the IMO is ready for active cooperation and will continue to support Ukraine in the future. The parties agreed to maintain contact, including Kuleba's invitation to the IMO Secretary General to the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025, which is set to take place this July in Rome. It should be noted that in July 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the Maritime Security Strategy of Ukraine, which aims to uphold Ukraine's international obligations under IMO conventions.
Ukraine's strategic plans also foresee joining several other international conventions related to navigation and maritime safety.
The parties agreed to support cooperation under the Ukraine Maritime Transport Recovery Plan, developed jointly with the Estonian Ministry of Climate at the beginning of 2024. This plan is detailed and covers all critical areas of Ukraine's maritime sector, with a total budget of 550 million euros.
For reference, the IMO is the main international organization responsible for the legal regulation of international commercial shipping. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the IMO has made several important decisions to support Ukraine, including the expulsion of Russia from the IMO Council and the suspension of Russian participation in any IMO technical cooperation activities.