Ukraine

Background and Rationale

Integrity challenges in ports are common and affect international and national private-sector stakeholders operating in Ukraine. Port authorities such as customs, port state control, and ecological control are the main government representatives engaged in practices involving unethical demands from vessels. Most of such unethical demands are requests for large cash payments. Rejecting such demands leads to heavy delays of the vessels and the threat of fines for alleged non-compliance. In recent years, Ukraine has made great efforts to tackle corruption on the regulatory and legislative side, especially on Ecological inspections. However, there are other challenges across various segments of the Ukrainian maritime sector that requires reforms to align Ukrainian maritime legislation and practices to EU and international standards.

MACN’s Strategy

• Anti-Corruption HelpDesk empowers the maritime industry to resist and report corruption: The HelpDesk empowers the private sector to reject, report and record unethical demands and/or unethical and unfair outcomes from inspections. Such data provides MACN with knowledge about potential systemic challenges faced and helps to engage with government authorities. Having access to an effective grievance mechanism is key to improving accountability in the maritime sector and providing the private sector with an alternative to the business-as-usual scenario.
• Data to drive regulatory reform: An effective reporting mechanism, like the HelpDesk, generates data. This data is an important building block to generate qualitative information on integrity challenges in the ports. It also enables evidence-based engagement with the government when discussing integrity gap assessments and potential reform recommendations of relevant maritime regulation and port operating procedures.
• Supporting the next generation of seafarers: Ukraine is one of the largest seafaring nations in the world. Currently, national training institutions do not offer training or awareness programs for the challenges associated with integrity risks in the industry. Open-sourcing MACN’s training to Maritime Training Institutions will equip the Next Generation of Seafarers with the tools and knowledge to say no to integrity risks before they start or during their professional maritime careers. This will potentially enable a culture of integrity and will have a long-term impact across the industry.

Outcomes and Impact

Despite the significant disruption caused by the ongoing war, MACN has continued to adapt its engagement in Ukraine, focusing on regulatory alignment, institutional capacity building, and sustained partner collaboration.

Prior to February 2022, MACN’s interventions contributed to tangible regulatory improvements, including amendments to legislation governing State Ecological Inspections. Data collected in 2021 and early 2022 showed a marked reduction in reports related to ecological inspections of vessels calling Ukrainian ports, indicating improved practices and oversight.

From 2023 onwards, with in country activities paused, MACN shifted its focus to strategic support for Ukraine’s longer term maritime governance reform. This included assessing how MACN could contribute to Ukraine’s EU integration process by supporting the alignment of maritime and trade regulations with EU and international standards. As part of this effort, MACN developed a Risk Assessment document in collaboration with a local maritime expert, identifying key regulatory and legislative challenges and proposing best practice solutions.

In 2024, MACN maintained close communication with its local partner, ANK Law Firm, and supported increased MACN member vessel activity in Ukrainian ports where operations continued. Engagement with Ukraine’s Shipping Administration progressed on proposed initiatives aimed at strengthening integrity and compliance frameworks.

In 2025, despite ongoing security constraints, MACN and ANK Law Firm successfully delivered a compliance and integrity course for 33 Ukrainian Harbour Masters, Port State Control Officers, and government officials. The course was formally endorsed by Ukraine’s Shipping Administration (MARAD), demonstrating continued institutional commitment to integrity and professional standards within the maritime sector.