The new law on river transport – all for one and one against all

A month ago, parliament finally voted 2475a bill aimed at the development of inland waterways. Taking action is pulled for more than 10 years. But today’s decision, the rules prescribed in the 2475a, satisfied almost everyone: government, business, cargo, experts from the EU. Against acts only large company “Nibulon”, which, by decision of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, can not be called a monopoly on the carriage of goods inland waterway transport.

“Nibulon” laments the main drawback of the bill – the lack of an open methodology for the calculation of a new collection of River. Representatives of the company are invited to discuss this issue with the international financial institutions to delay consideration of the law for a few months and again peregolosovat.

It seems that the common approach and logical, but there is another explanation, “nemonopolista ‘aspirations. Perhaps, the company expects that the bill will not pass retrial and it will be able to maintain its market share. Otherwise, access to the waterways of Ukraine will receive vessels under foreign flags, increase competition, and for the grace of the consignor will have to seriously compete.

Expert opinion and the Ministry – a change 2475a logistics?

According to the Minister of Infrastructure, planned river fee will be less than a total of five other charges that apply today. It facilitates the work of market operators and should have a positive impact on the cost of services (in the direction of their reduction). Consequently, the river collecting profitable consignor logisticians.

The money will be easier to distribute and guide the reconstruction, the maintenance status, the construction of new infrastructure on the river. With the right approach and execution, 2475a able to revive the industry, to promote the unloading of railway and automobile roads, to bring significant benefits to the economy.

The ultimate goal – to realize the unique potential of the Dnieper River (30-35 million tonnes per year). Today, it transported 6.7 million tons of cargo per year (3%) of the total volume of cargo transportation in the country. For comparison, in the Netherlands waterways close to 50% of shippers’ needs, and in Romania to 30%. The numbers are impressive, but is it worth to wait for cheap and high quality of delivery? The unequivocal answer to this question is no.

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