Threats from Russia in the Sea of Azov: how Ukrainian ports work
Russia continues to create obstacles for ships bound for Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov. The Institute of Maritime Law and Security accepts that the Ukrainian authorities and the military “do not actually control” the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov. The Office of Reform of the Cabinet of Ministers claims that despite the blocking of shipping by Russia, exports of Ukrainian ports are increasing. Ukraine is trying to protect its full right to use the seas through international institutions. How Russia’s actions affect shipping and congestion in the Azov ports was discussed during the broadcast “Azov News” on Radio Liberty.
For November 021 among 2020 by Russia 2020 – 29.6; in October – 37.9 – 36.8 hours (in October – 37.9) editorial team BlackSeaNews and “Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies”.
According to this monitoring, since December 2018, due to the threat of “Azov package” of international sanctions on Russian ports of the Sea of Azov, there have been events reducing the average length of stay of judges before leaving the Sea of Azov for the Black Sea: in 2018 – 79.5 hours ; in 2019 – up to 37.4 hours; in 2020 – 29.6 hours per vessel.
The duration of artificial detention by Russia in front of the Kerch Strait until 2021 has increased
“But for 11 months of 2021, the average duration of the port of artificial loading by Russia in front of the Kerch Strait of ships leaving Ukraine with export, much more – it was 39.4 hours per ship and has already exceeded 2019 and 2020 (37, 4 and 29.6, respectively) “, – say the experts of the monitoring group.
They point out that of the 61 merchant vessels that passed through the Kerch Strait from the Ukrainian ports of the Sea of Azov with export cargo, 33 were related to the EU by flag and / or shipowner’s registration and destination.
In connection with the monitoring, the average cost of artificially waiting for a permit for Kerch products is 39.1 years per court, for vessels related to the EU almost 36.8 hours per vessel.
Naval blockade of Ukraine
As wrote “Economic Truth”, at the end of 2018, Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian sailors and warships near the Kerch Strait was negatively recognized at the work of two important enterprises for Ukrainian business – the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk. Even then, they began to lose the largest customers, which eventually led to lower freight flows and revenues.
Ukraine can operate freely only in the waters of the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol
But even before that, since Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the number of ship calls in Ukraine’s Azov ports has more than halved. For example, in 2017, with the Year of the Port of 2014, Mariupol received 37% of vessels, Berdyansk – 69%.
Mariupol and Berdyansk are export-oriented ports. The complication of their oversized vessels, in particular, the construction of the Kerch Bridge by Russia.
Director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Security Bogdan Ustimenko says on the air of “News of the Azov Sea” that with a total area of about 40 thousand square kilometers – this is the waters of the Sea of Azov – Ukraine can operate freely only in the waters of the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol.
“That is, very, very, very, very, very, very much, this is the area of the Sea of Azov. Our Ukrainian authorities do not like to say that the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov are in fact beyond the control of state, including law enforcement agencies, as well as military formations of Ukraine, “he said.
Ustimenko understood that in fact the sea is of paramount importance for Ukraine’s economy.
“Ukraine transports about 58% of its exports through seaports. These are all ports. The total average flow of cargo is, say, about 160 million tons of our ports in general, ”Ustymenko said.
If the port infrastructure and industry stop, it will have catastrophic consequences for Ukraine
He is convinced that “if the port infrastructure and industry stop, it will lead to catastrophic consequences for Ukraine.”
“In fact, there is a naval blockade of Ukraine. This blockade is not complete. At the same time, among the illegal actions of Russia, to directly harmonize the normal law of the law of the sea – aimed at blocking navigation in the Sea of Azov in the part that concerns Ukraine, “- said the expert.
According to him, ships heading for Russian ports are not subject to such pressure. The expert also suggests that Russia may continue to completely block shipping through the Kerch Protocol.
“Physically it is possible and it is for them (Russia – ed.) the case is probably one year. Over the years, no more, I think, shipping can be completely blocked, “- suggested the director of the Institute of Maritime Law.
“I think that this is all such a strategic plan, aimed at this and not only at the ports that are actually on the Azov coast, but also the ports of Greater Odessa,” Ustimenko added.
He believes that Ukraine is important for influencing this problem – international law.
“Ukraine does not use all the mechanisms so far. In particular, it is possible to position international arbitrations with the use of recovery of compensation for such a mess. In particular, we need to start the delimitation procedure, in particular, by force. Ukraine must be more active in the international arena, “Ustimenko said.
export
Russia’s actions to block ports severely damage Ukrainian exports, but not so critically, the results of the reform on the air of the expert of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Maxim Gardus.
“All single-export keys, which in this period in the world this year, increase the demand for our exports. These are metals, chemical products, agricultural products, “he said.
The expert believes that the potential of the Azov ports is quite large and there is an opportunity to return the level of export turnover to the level of 2013.
“We have a record harvest this year. Therefore, not only through the Black Sea ports, but also through the ports of Azov there is a need to export products, there are customers, there is a base of cargo flows, so there is a lot of age and that is why it would be better to ensure that Russia does not hinder the region’s infrastructure. said Gardus.
Ukraine is trying to put pressure on Russia through an international organization
According to him, Ukraine is trying to put pressure on Russia through international organizations.
“Consultations with international organizations are being developed in international formats, in the format of the UN and its de facto part of the international organization,” Gardus said.
“Because there are no formal claims against us in Russia, no formal embargo. They are just studying, which by chance interfere with our cargo ship, “the expert explained.
As Russia has not announced an embargo on Ukraine’s supply of goods, only international consultations and pressure on Russia over violations of international maritime standards remain, Gardus added.
What is known about the work of ports today?
In January-November 2021, the seaports of Ukraine increased the number of serviced vessels by 2.7% compared to the same period last year, or by 270 vessels to 10,234 vessels. To testify to it “Administration of seaports of Ukraine” (AMPU).
During this period, the port of Mariupol handled 583 vessels, Berdyansk – 222, Kherson – 579. According to AMPU, seaports in 2020 decreased the number of serviced vessels in 2019 by 8.4%.
necessary in the Mariupol sea trade port claim to increase production. In recent years, he has suffered the loss of partners due to the proximity of hostilities, Russia’s completion of the Kerch Bridge and lockdown. However, according to the head of the port Igor Barsky, the state of the enterprise at the enterprise is stabilized. Here the equipment is modernized and large-scale projects are implemented. He said this in September this year use of ICTV.
“The volume of metal products and the amount of food cargo handled by the port has been increased. We also expect an increase in metal products and foodstuffs next year, ”he said.
Before the broadcast, the Azov News editorial office addressed the Polish Seaports Administration of Poland, the management of Maria, Berdyansk and Kherson ports and the Henichesk port center. Representatives of these organizations are ready to comment on the state of their enterprises for various reasons.
Chances of Genichesk to become a port city
The events of 2014, when Russia annexed the Ukrainian Crimea, also affected the investment attractiveness of the Genichesk port in the Kherson region, according to local authorities. it is necessary to speak about it the deputy chairman of the Kherson regional state administration Mykola Yakymenko Center for Journalistic Investigations.
According to him, the investor – the company “Nibu” – abandoned his idea of developing a port and there were no other options. Also, the opinion that the port’s entry into the concession was not considered, as well as the question of its privatization. Commenting on the Azov News, Yakymenko said on the air that the situation around the Henichesk port center had not changed.
“Today, the Henichesk port center is out of order. It is frozen, there is no activity. There are several fishing boats standing near the second berth, that’s all, “said the former head of the Henichesk port. Vladimir Vyshnevetsky.
In his opinion, it is necessary to initiate the transfer of the port to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, but still conclude a concession agreement on the restoration of the Genichesk port as a fishing port.
“The second direction is, I still hope that when the statesmen appear, they will pay attention to the fact that there is a gas condensate field on the traverse of Biryuchy Island. It is estimated to have a capacity of about 50 billion cubic meters of gas. Development of such a field without port infrastructure, without a port facility is impossible, ”Vyshnevetskyi said.
He connects the third direction of development of the Henichesky port point purely with defense.
One of the berths of the Genichesk port can use naval protection
“The Marine Guard can really use the first berth of the Genichesk port, ie it will be a specialized, fish, but mixed use. That is, the first berth can be given to our border guards, “added the former head of the Henichesk port.
On December 10, the Command of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine issued a statement stating that Russia had blocked 70% of the Azov Sea. The reports said at the time that the Russians had issued navigational warnings about shipping violations in certain areas, allegedly related to artillery fire in areas near Mariupol, Berdyansk and Henichesk. The Command of the Ukrainian Navy stressed that such overlaps occur systematically and impede free navigation in the Sea of Azov.
In April 2021, Ukraine and eight other PACE member states called on Russia to end the blockade of the Kerch Strait. In Russia, in turn, argued that the movement of commercial vessels through the Kerch Strait, including in Ukrainian ports, is not limited.