On May 29-31 Odessa Hosted Maritime Days in Odessa 2014.

This year the forum Maritime Days in Odessa was held for the fourth time. It gathered leaders of maritime transport and port industry for discussing and solving vital problems. Traditional Welcome Party for delegates of Maritime Days (sponsored by TIS Company) took place at the Fratelli Restaurant in the evening of May 29. Delicious meals and beautiful music performed by the singer Marish created lounge atmosphere enhancing networking opportunities for the Maritime Days delegates.

The main event of Maritime Days in Odessa 2014 was the “Carrying the goods by sea” conference which started on May 29 at the Black Sea Hotel in Shevchenko Park. The first session covered such vital topics as “Export in Black Sea Region” and “Cargo Transportation down the Dnieper”. The session was moderated by Nikolay Melnykov, “Interlegal” Law firm, and Kirill Taran, the Deputy Director General on Fleet Management of “Ukrrechflot” Company. The reporters were Andrey Shklyar, “Centre for Transport Strategies”, Gennadiy Ivanov, “Phaethon International” Company and Yuriy Skichko, “Germes Trading” Company.

The second session of the conference aroused particular interest among the participants present and became one of the highlights of the day thanks to a topical subject. This session was moderated by Arthur Nitsevych, partner of “Interlegal” Law firm, and Boris Khrebtov, director of the company “GAC-Ukraine/Maxmarine”. The session was opened by the partner of Maritime Days in Odessa 2014 – “Endofa” Company, UAE, with their “Commodity Credit in Bunkering” presentation. The speakers were Daniel Kvist and Kristian Hulgard.

The next topic was “Crimea and Shipping” presented by Arthur Nitsevych, partner of “Interlegal” Law firm. In his presentation Mr. Nitsevych touched on the problematic issues that arose in shipping in general due to the annexation of the Crimea. Topical subjects caused widespread discussion among the participants.

The final chord was the Case study, which was conducted by Interlegal specialists: Natalia Myroshnychenko, associated partner, Alexey Remeslo and Dmitry Zagorodnyuk, senior lawyers, and Andrey Perepelitsa, the lawyer. Case study topics were:  “Lien on cargo by Shipowner”, “Sanctions” and “Payments and “sound” fraud schemes”.

The third session started with presentation of Valentin Bokatyy, the executive director of Novorossiysk Port Terminal. He talked on the problems with transportations of project cargoes on a real case basis.

The subsequent panel discussion was attended by Sergey Nazarenko - Dealex Transport, Andrey Varvarenko - Nortrop, Alexander Varvarenko - Varamar, Maxim Stolyarov - Varamar. Every speech at the roundtable touched specific and urgent issues of project cargoes transportation. This area of maritime business requires special attention. The audience actively participated in the discussion, put forward proposals for addressing problems. In addition, the participants actively shared their own experiences.

  

 

  

The second part of the session was devoted to public services in transport. A presentation of Eduard Machivariani, Director of ASSA Agency and Interlegal representative in Georgia, on how it is in Georgia, resulted in a very strong resonance among the delegates and a lot of questions to the speaker. After all, Georgia managed to overcome corruption and facts presented by the rapporteur just seemed fantastic.

The following panel discussion moderated by Artem Skorobogatov, associated partner of Interlegal, and Sergey Nedyak, director of CMT Ltd., highlighted a range of issues on the provision of government services in transport logistics.

  

To inflame the passions this debate was probably the hottest. On the part of business it was attended by Andrey Stavnitser, CEO of TIS, Andrei Sokolov, Informal, Stefan Klencíu, Maersk Line, Alexander Zakharov, AIFFU, Alexander Lazarev, EBA, whereas on the part of the state – by Vyacheslav Voronoy, chief of the strategic development desk of the Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine.

In the evening of the same day, in Otrada Beach Club, the guests gathered for the annual dinner of the Shipbrokers’ Club of Ukraine. More than 200 participants met to informally greet old friends and business partners.

 

Maritime Days in Odessa 2014 was attended by experts from different spheres – owners of terminals and ports, cargo owners, ship operators, brokers, shipowners, shipping lines, freight forwarders; as well as representatives of insurance companies, maritime lawyers and profile media.

 

Summarizing Maritime Days, it may be noted that in the forum has provided an opportunity not only to establish new business contacts, but also pave the way for real changes in the transport sector.

 

On May 31 the International Football Tournament “Odessa Shipping Cup 2014” concluded Maritime Days in Odessa 2014. The annual event was attended by 8 teams. Cup winner was the team of Bourbon, the team silver - Nortrop, bronze winner was the team of Phaethon.

 

Maritime Days in Odessa 2014 was organized by the companies Nortrop, Dealex Transport, Varamar, Interlegal, Novorossiysk Port Terminal, and Remedy Law Firm.

 

The financial partner of Maritime Days 2014 was the company Endofa of UAE.

The organizers express their gratitude to Association of Container Lines of Ukraine, the Shipbrokers’ Club of Ukraine, and media partners - APK Inform, Ports of Ukraine, Transport, Distribution and Logistics, Agribusiness, Baltic Transport, Centre of Transport Strategies, Maritime business news and other.

 

More interesting information about Maritime Days in Odessa you can find on its Facebook page

We thank all participants and partners and look forward to all at Maritime Days in Odessa in 2015.

 

Press release prepared

By the Press center of

The Organizing Committee of Maritime Days in Odessa 2014

www.maritimedays.odessa.ua