Maritime Administrations.
The Maritime Administration should be an independent professional body, free from political influence, avoiding political appointments and lobbying, and focusing on the industry and protecting the interests of those who work within it. This is the vision of the head of the relevant ministry.
International obligations require the Maritime Administration to be a single government body or institution responsible for the implementation of contracts in the maritime transport industry—a point repeatedly emphasized by representatives of the International Maritime Organizations.
Top management of the Maritime Administration notes that the functions of such an authority are currently dispersed among several ministries and agencies. IMO experts, in turn, call on all shipping countries to eliminate duplication of maritime administration functions between different organizations and establish a single government body in this area.
The lectures will examine data on the bodies governing the maritime industry in eleven maritime countries worldwide, to understand the existing administrative model. Although the lectures present a rather condensed presentation, a number of characteristic functions and areas of work common to maritime administrations in all the countries discussed can be identified, such as port and flag state control, vessel registration, maritime training, navigation safety in territorial waters, maritime security and rescue operations, aquatic pollution prevention, etc. It should also be noted that in some countries, the maritime administration is an independent government body, while in others, it is a department within the Ministry of Transport. In the vast majority of countries, these bodies are headed by professionals with significant industry experience.
To clarify the responsibilities of maritime administrations, let's examine their structure.
Maritime administrations are specialized government agencies (or departments) responsible for managing the maritime industry, ensuring maritime safety, and fulfilling the state's international obligations in the field of shipping.
The main functions of Maritime Administrations are the functions of such structures, which are usually divided into several key areas:
1. Safety and Supervision: monitoring the technical condition of vessels, compliance with navigation regulations, and preventing pollution of the marine environment.
2. Certification of Seafarers: issuing professional diplomas, certificates, and seafarer's passports, as well as monitoring the quality of maritime education.
3. Ship Registration: maintaining a state register of vessels authorized to fly the flag of a given country (functions of the "flag state").
4. Port Control: overseeing foreign vessels calling at national ports to ensure their compliance with international standards (Port State Control).
5. International Cooperation: representing the country's interests in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other bodies.
Examples in different countries.
Depending on the government structure of the country, the functions of the maritime administration may be performed by different agencies:
1. In Ukraine: The State Service for Maritime and Inland Waterway Transport and Shipping (Maritime Administration) is the central executive body.
2. In the US: MARAD (Maritime Administration) is an agency within the
Department of Transportation.
It is important to distinguish between a Maritime Administration (as a government oversight body) and a Port Authority (which may be responsible for the economic management of a specific harbor, collecting port dues, and developing infrastructure).
A Maritime Administration is a government agency responsible for regulating the industry, ensuring maritime safety, and enforcing laws nationwide.
A Port Authority (or its captain) manages infrastructure, vessel traffic, and economic activities within a specific port. The main difference is the level of authority: government regulation versus operational management.
Key differences, scope, and responsibilities.
Maritime Administration (state):
Establishes regulations, ensures overall maritime safety, and performs oversight and control functions.
Port Administration (local/economic):
1. Responsible for the operation of port infrastructure, the safety of vessels directly in port, and the collection of port dues.
2. Harbor Master:
A key official of the port administration, reporting to the state body (maritime administration) on security matters.
Functions.
Maritime Administration:
Infrastructure development, environmental protection, and compliance with legislation.
Port Administration:
Organization of loading and unloading operations, vessel traffic management, and provision of berthing.
A port administration may be part of a country's seaport management structure (e.g., the USPU), performing development and operational functions, while the maritime administration ensures regulatory and legal regulation.
While the Maritime Administration creates the legislative framework and standards, the Port Authority is the instrument for implementing this authority at specific berths and roadsteads.
The Maritime Administration's structure includes:
- management (head and deputies),
- structural divisions by area (safety, vessel registration, seafarer certification),
- territorial bodies.
It reports to the Ministry, the name of which varies by country, which manages transport operations as a whole, ensuring state oversight and control.
The main structural elements of the Maritime Administration:
A. Management:
- head of service,
- his deputies.
B. Functional divisions:
1. Maritime safety control departments.
2. Vessel registration (State Ship Register).
3. Diploma and passport departments (issuance of seafarer documents).
4. Legal department, personnel department, finance department.
Territorial bodies:
Regional directorates (e.g., for the country's maritime regions or river regions), providing control directly at the ports.
- Менеджер: Кучеренко Володимир Юрійович
- Менеджер: Пастернак Олег Яковлевич