Ships, ports, IT solutions and mine clearance: what the Maritime Recovery Plan envisages

The Ukrainian-Estonian recovery plan provides for raising funds to restore the main areas of the domestic maritime industry.

Deputy Minister for Development Communities and Territories of Ukraine Andriy Kashuba said this in an interview with Укрінформ.Ukrinform.

According to him, the recovery plan focuses on such sectors as shipbuilding, maritime logistics, port recovery, etc.

“For the modernization, re-equipment, renewal of the existing fleet, merchant and auxiliary vessels, for the construction of new vessels of various types – patrol boats, pilot boats, and multifunctional vessels for dredging and for collecting oil products in the water area, etc. According to our calculations, approximately 319 million euros will be needed,” the deputy minister said.

In particular, additional funding of about 97.8 million euros has been provided for the construction of dual-purpose vessels – patrol ships and boats.

At the same time, the restoration of ports and port equipment, the construction of mobile floating docks, according to preliminary calculations, will cost another 30 million euros.

“Next is maritime logistics. The need for IT solutions, consulting, is estimated at 5.8 million euros,” the official emphasized.

Andriy Kashuba said that there is also a need for demining and clearing of explosive objects from port water areas and the sea zone. We are talking about sonars, remotely controlled devices, and training personnel for demining. Approximately 106 million euros have been estimated for this.

“We plan to spend approximately 18 million euros on creating jobs and supporting marine research and development, and approximately 10 million euros on building public sector capacities – support platforms, surveillance. We understand that these are huge funds, so we are counting mainly on attracting foreign funding and donor assistance. And we use every opportunity to disseminate the plan at diplomatic platforms, at international meetings,” the Deputy Minister shared.

We will remind you that in January in Odesa, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Estonia and Ukraine on the implementation of the Plan for the Restoration of the Maritime Industry of Ukraine.