NIBULON solemnly launched the innovative Т3500 project tug, keel-laid two new vessels – 140-m self-propelled floating crane (P-140) with a productivity of 18,000 tons per day and POSS-115 project tug with the participation of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, as well as solemnly put into operation the elevator complex of 43,000 tons and a new berth (222 m) at the transshipment terminal; it enables the company to handle up to 5 vessels at once and to store seven different crops simultaneously. The company opened a new workshop at its shipbuilding and repair yard. In addition, the largest international exhibition of shipbuilding achievements and new developments in water transport was opened in the territory of the facility.
Opening the ceremony, President Petro Poroshenko stated that NIBULON is always a symbol of shipbuilding revival, and Hero of Ukraine, General Director of NIBULON Oleksiy Vadaturskyy is a person, “who ensures and advances the Ukraine’s economy development in extremely difficult environment, radically changes approaches in business management, creates jobs, provides a huge export potential of Ukraine, modernizes the infrastructure”. 
“The Ukrainian economy shows an increase of 3.1 % in the first quarter of 2018. This is due to such locomotives of the Ukrainian economy as Oleksiy Vadaturskyy with his team and as other real enthusiasts”, said head of the state.
Petro Poroshenko noted that Ukraine has great potential for exports growth, but a significant improvement of transport infrastructure is needed, as well as storage capacities. That is why private investments in these industries are so important.
“It is extremely important that we put into operation the elevator complex, launch the seagoing tug, which also contributes to this infrastructure. We take part in keel-laying of two new vessels. This will increase the export capacity of Ukraine, as well as confirm the quality of Ukrainian shipbuilding”, said the President. 
“The main thing deserving gratitude from the public and authorities is that the company is one of the largest taxpayers, and thanks to it 500 more new jobs will be created in Mykolaiv”, said head of the state. He also thanked Oleksiy Vadaturskyy, employees of NIBULON shipbuilding and repair yard and the entire NIBULON for a significant contribution to the development of Ukraine’s industrial, transport, and agrarian potential.
In turn, NIBULON’s General Director, Hero of Ukraine Oleksiy Vadaturskyy said that the implementation of projects to construct the new elevator complex and workshop, large-scale shipyard reconstruction, as well as keel-laying and launching of new vessels had become possible thanks to support of the reliable financial partners who trust the company’s initiatives.
In particular, it is about joint investment programs with the International Finance Corporation, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment bank, separate European bank institutions. Ambassador of Belgium, Ambassador of the Netherlands, representatives of about 20 states, who either through financing or through the supply of equipment have invested in the development of shipbuilding and agrarian infrastructure of Ukraine, attended the festivities.
“We are the best in shipbuilding no thanks to state subsidies and privileges, but thanks to trust of Western institutions and our own patriotism. One our enterprise constructs as many vessels as all other shipbuilding enterprises together. I hope that they will develop and will also construct and invest in the industry development”, said General Director of NIBULON.
“In two years our company dredged the Southern Buh River and revived navigation on the area of 134 km, constructed two terminals, and transported one million tons of agricultural products along this river. In addition, we have constructed a high-capacity dredger to crush rocky soils. And now we will be able to implement interstate agreements with Belarus on bringing waterways to the proper condition. Only this year we have launched four vessels”, said Oleksiy Vadaturskyy. 
He added that only the shipyard had used USD 70 million of investments. It allows the company not only to construct vessels but also to develop new projects. In particular, the self-propelled floating crane that was keel-laid with the Petro Poroshenko is the first 140-m vessel that will be constructed at the shipyard. Prior to this, the shipyard constructed vessels of 80-100 m.
According to Oleksiy Vadaturskyy, not everyone has positive emotions about the company’s achievements.
“We are the best no thanks to state subsidies and privileges, but thanks to trust of Western institutions and patriotism of the company. But our leadership in the economy causes a lot of problems for me. Thank you for agreeing to meet next week to discuss these issues. Because I and our company do not want to endure the humiliation of the Minister of Infrastructure and some of the deputies who accompany you even today. I want that there are tens of companies such as NIBULON. Then Ukraine will be rich, prosperous; it will be a country for people and will invest in people, in the economy. I hope that we will have not only your support on this way, but also the support of infrastructure ministries and other departments because everything I do I do not for myself but for the Ukraine’s economy”, said NIBULON’s General Director. Later he clarified that it was about accusing the company of monopolizing river traffic and shipbuilding during the discussion of new legislation on domestic river transportation.
“Our opponents do not embrace a strategy of attracting investments to Ukraine and creating jobs. They want to import an offshore fleet without paying any duties. Representatives of the Ministry blackmail us by addressing themselves to the EU, directly to the European banks, with the request not to allocate loans to our company for the development. Such a situation in any country of the world would be ended with the urgent resignation of the minister. Such humiliations are ordinary things for us. I was forced to address myself to the President in order to find protection from such a Minister. President promised to invite me to a meeting in a few days so we could hold a dialogue. And we will arguably show what is bad for Ukraine and what are the best ideas for Ukraine”, stressed NIBULON’s General Director.
The people’s deputies who accompanied the President during a trip to Mykolaiv region also felt uncomfortable.
“We are accused of alleged monopoly in river transportation, shipbuilding, that we plan to be monopolists in the number of vessels of the Ukrainian fleet; that we supposedly interfere with the legislative activity of other people’s deputies, who have another opinion that differs from the opinion our company has. They have completely different strategy – not to attract investment funds into the country and construct vessels at the existing capacities for Ukraine, but to bring here an offshore fleet, which once was taken out of state ownership of Ukraine, and now it ages abroad. They want to bring it to Ukraine without paying any duties, taxes, etc.”, addressed himself Oleksiy Vadaturskyy to people’s deputies.
Nevertheless, NIBULON continues implementing its large-scale project to revive shipbuilding and improve the logistics infrastructure of Ukrainian rivers. According to Oleksiy Vadaturskyy, the task of NIBULON in the coming years is to build its fleet of 100 vessels to transport 4 million tons of grain per year along the rivers. The company also starts to construct a new closed workshop, which will allow the shipbuilders to construct vessels inside the workshop, without going out.  The line located there will be equipped according to the best world standards. In addition, it is planned to carry out preparatory works for the construction of river terminals in Ternivka (Dnipropetrovsk region) and Marianske (Zaporizhzhia region) by autumn. They can be put into operation in spring 2019.