Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company puts forward plan for using passenger fleet

MOSCOW. July 10 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (UDP) has come up with a plan to the authorities to use its passenger fleet, UDP Director General Dmitry Moskalenko said.

"[...] UDP's passenger fleet. We have put forward efficient solutions. But again we are waiting for approval," Ukrainian media quoted him as saying on social media on Wednesday.

At the same time, Moskalenko said that the UDP Supervisory Board's appointment announced four months ago is at the final stage, with requirements for candidates currently being agreed upon.

"The formation of the Supervisory Board is a message to international donors about the possibility of launching funding for upgrading our fleet," he said, adding that this refers to the 86-million-euro financing allocated by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Among the decisions that UDP expects from the government Moskalenko named changes that will launch the scrapping of the outdated ships' graveyard, whose capacity is estimated at 16,000 tonnes of scrap metal, and the need to introduce a 30% discount to the rail tariff for the Danube ports.

"Provided it [the discount] is granted, the agrarians stand ready to guarantee a steady export flow via the Danube ports. Calls from industrial associations and businesses to discuss this matter remain unanswered so far," Moskalenko said.

As previously reported, UDP continues to implement the program for upgrading its river fleet, and another three vessels were sent to Austria for retrofitting at the OSWAG shipyard.