Head of the Maritime Administration Caught Up in a Scandal: Details
A new scandal has erupted in the Ukrainian maritime industry surrounding the work of the Maritime Administration and its head, Serhiy Gursky. Statements have been made in the public sphere regarding potential corruption risks, problems with processing documents for seafarers, and the agency’s organizational structure.
In particular, Member of Parliament Anna Skorokhod has criticized the agency’s work, stating that an audit of the Shipping Administration’s activities is necessary.
The Shipping Administration falls under the jurisdiction of the relevant ministry. At the same time, statements regarding possible corruption in the maritime sector have recently appeared in the media and in public discourse.
Among the allegations raised are reports of a possible increase in the unofficial cost of navigating the Danube, higher fees for issuing certificates, and ongoing problems with the certification of seafarers.
These claims are currently just allegations and require verification by the competent authorities.
Anna Skorokhod raised specific questions regarding the activities of Serhiy Gursky, head of the Shipping Administration. According to the lawmaker, these questions pertain, in particular, to the circumstances and purpose of some of his official trips to Poland, as well as the possible use of business trips for personal purposes.
In this regard, Skorokhod announced her intention to send a parliamentary inquiry to Mykola Kalashnyk, Ukraine’s Minister of Community and Territorial Development.
Despite the public outcry and the lawmaker’s statements, Serhiy Gurskyi continues to head the Shipping Administration.
According to available information, his term in office has been extended for another three months. This occurred amid public criticism and voiced complaints regarding the agency’s work.
At the same time, criticism has been voiced in the public sphere, including from Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi directed at the agency’s leadership.
The lack of notable personnel decisions or a public audit of the Shipping Administration’s activities, according to critics, raises additional questions about the position of the relevant ministry.
Anna Skorokhod states that the Ministry must respond to reports of possible violations, conduct an audit of the Maritime Administration’s operations, and, if necessary, make appropriate personnel decisions.
In the lawmaker’s view, the Ukrainian maritime sector needs transparent rules, systemic changes, and effective government oversight.
Separately, she discusses the conflict between what she calls the entrenched system of “port owners” and the business community’s demand for greater transparency and clear operating rules.
According to Skorokhod, one of the key questions for the Ministry remains why Gursky continues to head the Maritime Administration despite public criticism and complaints about the agency’s work.
Anna Skorokhod had previously raised questions regarding personnel policy and the work of the Maritime Administration.
She noted that, in this context, attention has been focused not only on Serhiy Gursky but also on Oleksandr Zaborsky, head of the Odesa branch of the Shipping Administration.
At the same time, the publicly voiced allegations are not proven facts, and a final assessment of possible violations must be made by the relevant authorities following an investigation.
It remains to be seen whether the relevant ministry will conduct a full audit of the Maritime Administration’s activities and whether personnel decisions will be made based on the audit’s findings.
This is evidenced by statements from Member of Parliament Anna Skorokhod and publicly available information regarding the activities of the Shipping Administration.
As a reminder, Lithuania plans to join an international mission to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently still being organized.
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