Mission

Work towards the elimination of all forms of maritime corruption

Goals

The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) is a global business network working towards the vision of a maritime industry free of corruption that enables fair trade to the benefit of society at large.

MACN identified systemic corruption in Ukrainian ports and shipping companies in Ukraine face frequent challenges in connection to documentation inspection and onboard practices. In recent years, Ukraine has made great efforts to tackle corruption on the regulatory side. However, the regulatory framework in the maritime sector is not sufficiently enforced and therefore companies continue to face corrupt demands.

MACN's objectives in Ukraine are to:

• Establish a local Help Desk to empower the private sector to say no to corruption, support frontline staff and reduce delays in ports.
• Strengthen dialogue between the maritime private sector and the public sector in Ukraine on integrity challenges.
• Promote regulatory reforms and updates to operational guides for the private sector.

Stakeholders

MACN has developed a Collective Action in Ukraine with funding from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Danida).

MACN engages with a number of stakeholders including the Ukrainian Sea Port Authority, the Maritime Chamber of Ukraine, the Minister of Energy and Environment Protection and the Minister of infrastructure.

Activities

Through intervention and legislative reform activities by local stakeholders, the Ukrainian Government amended relevant legislation around State Ecological Inspections. This was evident from the data collected during 2021 and early 2022, where no reports related to ecological control of vessels calling Ukrainian ports have been received.

Before February 2022, MACN witnessed great uptake of its HelpDesk and a high-resolution rate of the reported cases. Since the dissolution of the grain deal in July 2023, more than 30 attacks on port infrastructure and merchant vessels have occurred, resulting in extensive damage that limits our prospects for short-term progress.

However, MACN continues to collaborate and support its local partner ANK, engaging with ANTS, and other international and national entities. These efforts are focused on exploring the best approaches to support the modernisation of the maritime sector, aligning it with international standards.