Dear recipient,
Please be guided by the background and purpose of this survey below.
We look forward to your participation. Individual feedback or results will be kept confidential and only aggregated information will be shared with local stakeholders and MACN membership.
Background
Corruption is one of the most challenging risks for any business, and businesses in Ukraine are no exception. From 2016 to date, MACN Anonymous Reporting Mechanism has recorded more than 140 incidents of improper demands in Ukrainian ports, something which directly impacts companies relying on port-based trade including import and export.
The shipping industry faces challenges in connection to documentation and on-board practices (e.g. waste disposal, ballast water discharge). Port Authorities, customs, health and ecological authorities are the main government representatives making corrupt demands. As an example, it is common that ecological authorities have reasons to issue different forms of so called ecological fees in connection to inspection of ballast water.
Requests for large cash payments and cigarettes are the main kinds of demand. The majority of the incidents are reported from Yuzhny, Odessa and Nikolaev (Mykolaiv) ports, but reports are coming in from several other ports as well. The demands tend to be associated with threat of fines for alleged non-compliance and delays of the vessel.
Action
This survey seeks to gain insight to the issues around improper demands in the ports of Ukraine as a base to develop a targeted long-term collaborative action plan to fight corruption in the Black Sea region, with focus on Ukraine.
About MACN
The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) is a global business network working towards the vision of a maritime industry free of corruption that enables fair trade to the benefit of society at large. Established in 2011 by a small group of committed maritime companies, MACN has grown to include over 110 members globally, and has become one of the pre-eminent examples of collective action to tackle corruption.
MACN and its members work towards the elimination of all forms of maritime corruption by: raising awareness of the challenges faced; implementing the MACN Anti-Corruption Principles and co-developing and sharing best practices; collaborating with governments, non-governmental organizations, and civil society to identify and mitigate the root causes of corruption; and creating a culture of integrity within the maritime community.
For more information please visit: www.maritime-acn.org
Kind regards,
MACN Secretariat