Potential buyers of the Bilhorod-Dnister port are deterred by the depth of the approach channel

The approach channel of the Bilhorod-Dnister port currently has an actual depth of 1.9 m, while the passport depth is 5.5 m.

The director of the port, Oksana Kiktenko, said this on her Facebook page.

According to her, the business defines the purchase of this enterprise as risky due to the extremely negative state of property and objects that remain in the state, most of which are on the balance sheet of the State Enterprise “Seaports Administration of Ukraine”.

“The port in the sense of the law is not for sale, only the property of the state stevedoring company is being sold, the possibilities of which work directly depend on the access and efficiency of strategically important state objects – approach channels, piers and the bridge located over the channel,” explained Oksana Kiktenko.

She also said that as of today, the approach channel has an actual depth of 1.9 m, while the passport depth is 5.5 m.

“Negotiations between the port and the USPA regarding the restoration of the necessary depths, which will allow for the resumption of docking, have been going on for four years. But for all our requests, the USPA does not give any guarantees and deadlines for the restoration of the necessary depths, in violation of the norms of legislative acts. According to the Rules for the technical operation of port hydrotechnical facilities, by default, the approach channels and port water areas must be maintained within the dimensions established by the passport,” said the director of the port.

According to her, the problem with the approach channel of the Bilhorod-Dnister port has existed for 11 years – since the channel was handed over to the USPA. Since 2013, the greatest depth of the channel has reached 3.5 m.

At the same time, the port is looking for a solution to the problem. It is known that the management of the port has developed a draft law that will provide an opportunity to obtain a concession for the approach channels of the port, with the conditions of keeping them in good condition and paying concession payments to the state.

We will remind, recently the director of the Bilhorod-Dnister port, Oksana Kiktenko, said that the Ukrainian companies Nibulon and Nika-Tera are interested in the privatization of the Bilhorod-Dnister port.

Later, Group DF said that they would not participate in the privatization of the Bilhorod-Dnister port.