Ukraine set to cancel mandatory regular training, certification of seafarers

Ukraine's maritime authorities decided to annul the requirement for compulsory training and certification of ship crew members, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine said.

Minister of Infrastructure Vladimir Kozak said that Ukraine will adopt world's practice of permanent certificates. Today, Ukrainian seafarers are certified only for five-year period and have to undergo training once and again for extension of their certificates. “This costs the seafarers extra money in the their budgets. Considering the best practices from other countries, there is no need for such confirmation”, the official said. The changes will also be applied to officers of ships.

The Ministry will submit shortly a draft order to the government with amendments to the appropriate law ("On Approval of the Procedure of Conferring Titles to Officers of Ships" dated January 15, 2005 № 38) after coordination with competent departments.