“This is the first time in the eleven-year history of maritime ratings when the transport community of the country recognized the absolute leadership on water transport of a person, whose main business is connected with another industry”, said Kostiantyn Ilnytskyi, chairman of the organizing committee of the National Maritime Rating of Ukraine, manager of “Ports of Ukraine” magazine.
A group of 82 experts determined the winner in this nomination. Each of them had the opportunity to name three people worthy of the title “Person of the Year” on water transport of Ukraine by the results of 2017 in any order.
The experts distinguished Oleksiy Vadaturskyy from the others first of all “for the systematic development of river transportation and shipbuilding in Ukraine”; for “attracting large investments in the economy of Ukraine”; for “the opening of a high-tech transshipment terminal”; for “tirelessness in development of infrastructure of his company”; for “launching of a number of tugs and dredgers constructed at NIBULON shipbuilding and repair yard and launching of the river terminals in Bilenke and Hola Prystan”; for “defending the interests of Mykolaiv region in the central executive authorities in terms of  liberalizing the navigation rules along the Buh-Dnipro-Lyman Canal, dredging of the Buh-Dnipro-Lyman Canal and the Southern Buh River”.
As one of the experts noted, “In 2017, Mr. Vadaturskyy clearly adhered to the proclaimed goals, having developed grain business, shipbuilding, the company’s fleet, and river transportation”.
We would remind you that NIBULON has been a prize-holder of the National Maritime Rating of Ukraine for many years, in particular under such nominations as “Person of the Year on Water Transport” (2013), “Growth Rates”, “Absolute Growth”, “Fleet Revival”, “Golden Berth”.
The success of NIBULON is a unique case when an agrarian company almost on its own successfully revives river navigation and shipbuilding in the country. The company’s achievements are the result of many years of hard work, support of reliable partners and a strategic vision of the permanent manager Oleksiy Vadaturskyy.
It should be noted that NIBULON shipbuilding and repair yard is one of a few plants in Ukraine that constructs complete vessels. Almost every month the shipyard launches new vessels. The company is carrying out the reconstruction and modernization of the existing capacities. Upon its completion, the shipyard will become the most modern plant in Ukraine and undoubtedly one of the best shipyards in Europe. In parallel, the company develops a powerful river infrastructure by putting new transshipment terminals on the Dnipro River into operation every year; it also performs dredging at its own expense. 
NIBULON successfully performs cargo transportation by water. In 2016/17 MY, the company transported more than 2 million tons of grain and oilseeds. NIBULON also plans to transport other cargoes by river. The main goal of the company is to redirect grain cargoes to water and to increase the volumes of cargo transported along inland waterways by up to 4 million tons of grain and other cargoes. It is planned to reach this goal within 2-3 years. In addition, NIBULON is also very interested in passenger transportation by modern vessels. Since May 2017, the company has launched passenger transportation by NIBULON Express high-speed hydrofoils along the Dnipro River and the Southern Buh River. In 2017, NIBULON transported more than 24,000 passengers.