On December 22, Рodrobnosti.mk.ua information resource published the news that Mykolayiv-Morskyy customs station had moved to the territory of NIBULON’s transshipment terminal. This supposedly causes inconvenience, as the pass costs UAH 200 per month. In his article, the author refers to the so-called “dockers” who have faced challenges on their way to the customs station.
Valeriy Kunytskyy, a head of NIBULON’s foreign economic relations and marketing department, comments on the situation.
“Please note that Mykolayiv Customs Office Department has been located in the territory of NIBULON’s transshipment terminal since 2004. The pass entry system functions in order to ensure safety, order, and control at the terminal. No obstacles to enter the checkpoint territory have appeared for 11 years. NIBULON ensures free access for all employees of the control authorities to the checkpoint territory. Thus, persons whose activity is not connected with NIBULON or who visit the terminal without NIBULON’s invitation must pay for the pass issuance. This pass costs UAH 45.00 including VAT per month for cars and UAH 8.00 including VAT for a person. The annual pass is UAH 540.00 including VAT for cars and UAH 96.00 including VAT for a person. There are no monthly payments of UAH 200”, says Valeriy Kunytskyy.
“The pass entry system is obligatory and necessary in order to ensure safety at the transshipment terminal, where separate departments of control authorities work round-the-clock. Other Ukrainian ports use such practice. Thus, for example, in order to visit the Mykolayiv Office of the State Veterinary Control, located in the territory of Mykolayiv Sea Port, it is also necessary to issue a pass for entering the port. The pass is issued according to tariffs being higher than at NIBULON’s transshipment terminal”, continues Valeriy Kunytskyy. Please note that the pass to Mykolayiv Sea Port is UAH 456 including VAT for NIBULON’s car per month and UAH 85.44 including VAT for NIBULON’s employee. The annual pass costs UAH 4,152.00 including VAT to enter Mykolayiv Sea Port and UAH 327.00 including VAT for an employee. It should be mentioned that other Ukrainian ports have higher tariffs to issue passes than at NIBULON’s transshipment terminal.
The department of Mykolayiv customs office, as well as other separate departments of control authorities, works at the transshipment terminal according to the “single office” principle. This approach is advantageous both for control authorities and foreign economic activity entities. It enables to shorten the control process over cargoes, persons and vehicles, to shorten the execution of export operations, and to minimize the involvement of third-parties. NIBULON was one of the first in Ukraine to initiate and implement this project. Due to the “single office”, the customs clearing of foreign economic operations are performed not only by NIBULON but also by other entities, in particular Chornomorsky Shipbuilding Yard PJSC, Ukrrichflot PJSC, Almaz M PE, Kernel-Trade Ltd, ArselorMattal Kryvyi Rig PJSC, Zaporizhstal OJSC as well as other companies that transship grain on water transport for export via NIBULON’s transshipment terminal.
“The given practice is an example of transparency, openness and efficient coordination with the state authorities and is highly appreciated by both the state and business. NIBULON’s experience is supported and appreciated at all levels. It is set as an example for other export terminals to facilitate business operation, expand cargo turnover, and to struggle against shadow grain market. It should be noted that the “single office” principle has been recently implemented in Odesa Sea Port.”
“Firstly, the customs station moved to NIBULON’s transshipment terminal on customs authorities’ initiative, and our company provided the separate department of control authorities with the opportunity to work in comfortable conditions round-the-clock and to use NIBULON’s modern infrastructure. Secondly, our company created appropriate conditions for visitors as well as employees. NIBULON has never received any complaints; the specialists were satisfied with the improved labour conditions. Thirdly, we are open for a dialogue. Thus, if people using these services have any proposals, we are always ready to listen to them and to discuss”, says Valeriy Kunytskyy.
“We call on mass-media representatives to check the information. Otherwise, this reduces the level of trust to your edition and destroys your reputation.”
For information
By the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 25.08.2004 No. 599-r, a checkpoint through the Ukrainian state border for international sea cargo connection that operates round-the-clock was opened in the territory of the transshipment terminal. The border control, customs control, and other types of control over persons, vehicles, cargoes and other property to move through the state border is organized according to the “single office” principle being in force at NIBULON’s transshipment terminal since 2004, in fact, since the terminal has been put into operation. NIBULON free of charge provided official premises (with separate entrance) to the separate departments of control authorities on the ground floor of its administrative and laboratory building. In order to perform all types of the state control and to ensure round-the-clock functioning of the “single office”, NIBULON ensured working conditions for all control authorities that meet general requirements for arrangement of checkpoints through the state border approved by the decrees of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated August 17, 2002, No.1142 “On Approval of General Requirements for Arrangement of Checkpoints through the State Border” and dated August 18, 2010, No. 751 “On Approval of Regulations on Checkpoints through the State Border and Control Points”.
