For two weeks, Ukrainian professionals explored the features of monitoring the recognized organizations’ (ROs) work that is aimed at ensuring the compliance of Ukrainian-flagged ships with the requirements of legislation and international treaties in the field of merchant shipping.
📌 The training sessions were held within the framework of the European Union technical assistance Twinning project “Institutional Support to the State Service for Maritime, Inland Waterway Transport and Shipping of Ukraine in the Implementation of the EU Acquis, Norms and Standards on Maritime Safety”.
Representatives of the Shipping Administration, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine and the State Enterprise “Classification Society Ukrainian Register of Shipping” first became familiar with theoretical aspects during video teleconferences (07–11 July) and then paid a five-day study visit to Genoa, Italian Republic (14–18 July).
On-site part included practical sessions at the Training Centre “A. De Rubertis” of the Italian Coast Guard, meetings with members of the world-renowned classification societies RINA Services S.p.A. and Det Norske Veritas, as well as an audience with the Coast Guard chief of Liguria, Rear Admiral Antonio Ranieri.
🗓 The training program covered the following aspects:
🔹 International and European regulatory framework for RO operation;
🔹 Political and economic rationale for authorizing recognized organizations;
🔹 Applicable requirements and international liability of ROs and Flag States;
🔹 Use of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) specific tools for oversight of recognized organizations;
🔹 Certification of ROs in accordance with the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) standards;
🔹 Ensuring confidentiality of information and training of qualified personnel.
💡 Special attention was drawn to procedures for carrying out periodic Flag State audits of recognized organizations’ activities, in particular joint ship inspections, as well as to interpretation of the RO Code provisions adopted by the International Maritime Organization.
⚓️ Systematic cooperation with Italian partners enables not only the approximation of Ukrainian legislation to European and international standards, but also the direct exchange of experience in addressing key issues related to maritime transport and shipping safety.
