EBA calls for the adoption of a draft law on inland waterway transport

30/ 09/ 2020

The business welcomes the long-awaited start of river transport reform and supports the need to adopt a sectoral draft law On Inland Water Transport for the development of Ukraines inland waterways provided the principles, developed before the second reading with the participation of the business community, are maintained. Herein, we would like to point out the key aspects that the deputies took into account during the revision of the draft law, and which are important for the development of inland waterways, namely: preserving the functions of the State Service of Maritime and River Transport to register lines of foreign navigation; establishing licensing only for such activities as the carriage of passengers, dangerous goods, and hazardous waste by inland waterways (and not the licensing of freight in general); excluding the provision on the financing of inland waterways at the expense of port dues. The business advocates the targeted use of port dues. It implies that they should be used for the development of the maritime industry. The following aspects should be also taken into consideration: the reduction of unjustified regulatory and bureaucratic barriers (removal of provisions that provided for the introduction of additional types of licensing, approvals for construction projects on rivers, confirmation of the safety management system by river terminals instead of shipping companies, the establishment of the emergency fund, unjustified fines charged from river terminals and river vessels). According to the experts of the EBA Logistics Committee, as a result of finalizing the text of the draft law to the second reading, together with partial consideration of the proposals of experts of the Association Committee, the level of compliance with international experience and European practice has increased significantly. Therefore, the business hopes for the adoption of a quality law that will promote the development of freight traffic on the rivers of Ukraine and attract investment in the industry. Be the first to learn about the latest EBA news with our Telegram-channel – EBAUkraine.

The business welcomes the long-awaited start of river transport reform and supports the need to adopt a sectoral draft law “On Inland Water Transport” for the development of Ukraine’s inland waterways provided the principles, developed before the second reading with the participation of the business community, are maintained. Herein, we would like to point out the key aspects that the deputies took into account during the revision of the draft law, and which are important for the development of inland waterways, namely:

preserving the functions of the State Service of Maritime and River Transport to register lines of foreign navigation;
establishing licensing only for such activities as the carriage of passengers, dangerous goods, and hazardous waste by inland waterways (and not the licensing of freight in general);
excluding the provision on the financing of inland waterways at the expense of port dues. The business advocates the targeted use of port dues. It implies that they should be used for the development of the maritime industry.

The following aspects should be also taken into consideration: the reduction of unjustified regulatory and bureaucratic barriers (removal of provisions that provided for the introduction of additional types of licensing, approvals for construction projects on rivers, confirmation of the safety management system by river terminals instead of shipping companies, the establishment of the emergency fund, unjustified fines charged from river terminals and river vessels).

According to the experts of the EBA Logistics Committee, as a result of finalizing the text of the draft law to the second reading, together with partial consideration of the proposals of experts of the Association Committee, the level of compliance with international experience and European practice has increased significantly. Therefore, the business hopes for the adoption of a quality law that will promote the development of freight traffic on the rivers of Ukraine and attract investment in the industry.

Be the first to learn about the latest EBA news with our Telegram-channel – EBAUkraine.