MACN HelpDesk: Three Years of Impact

Building on its success in Nigeria since 2019, the MACN HelpDesk expanded its mission to India in July 2022. Just three years later, it achieved significant milestones and made a notable impact on the maritime industry.

What is the MACN HelpDesk?

The MACN HelpDesk serves as a dynamic public-private partnership tool, providing a real-time resolution platform that strengthens collaboration between the shipping industry and government authorities. Today, it operates successfully in India, Egypt, Nigeria, and Ukraine. The MACN HelpDesk offers practical guidance to MACN members for port call preparation and provides immediate support when faced with unethical demands.

By escalating cases to the appropriate authorities, it actively contributes to dispute resolution and the fight against corruption, fostering trust, transparency, and accountability in maritime operations.

Proven Results in India

Since its inception, the MACN HelpDesk has processed thousands of Pre-Arrival Notifications (PANs) from vessels, enabling our team to provide tailored country-specific guidance to mitigate corruption risks. More than 50 cases have been successfully escalated during the vessels’ port calls.

The MACN HelpDesk has proved highly effective in supporting vessel operators when vessels calling Indian ports are faced with alleged fines based on undocumented claims of nonconformities to Standard Operating procedures (SOPs). Through prompt escalation and mediation, the MACN HelpDesk ensured adherenece to established SOPs, safeguarding sailing schedules and preventing costly delays.

Measurable Impact

These timely interventions resulted in total savings of approximately USD 750,000, stemming from both avoided departure delays and the recovery of payments tied to unethical demands, sustainably reducing financial liabilities for businesses during port operations. This highlights the MACN HelpDesk’s pivotal role in reducing operational costs while reinforcing integrity across the maritime value chain.

By empowering vessel operators to confidently Reject, Report, and Record unethical demands, the MACN HelpDesk goes beyond individual support; it is catalyzing change across the sector. Each successful escalation strengthens the culture of transparency, compliance, and accountability, setting new benchmarks for ethical conduct. As these efforts continue to scale, the MACN HelpDesk is not just mitigating corruption; it is reshaping the future of maritime trade for the better.