«The port service may not survive a long hiatus», - said Nazarenko, co-owner of a tugboat company

If deep-water ports do not resume operations in the near future, a prolonged shutdown could hit, first and foremost, the companies that provide services within the ports. These include berth operators, agents, pilotage and tugboat services.

This was stated by Serhiy Nazarenko, co-owner of the tugboat company ‘Axon Port Service’, according to ‘Shipovnik’.

According to Serhiy Nazarenko, the entire range of port services effectively comes to a standstill when vessel traffic ceases. Without vessels calling at port, there is no mooring, ship agency, pilotage or tug escort. At the same time, companies need to retain their staff and fleet and remain ready to resume operations.

— The berth operator, agent, pilot and tugboat operator do not make a living from the harvest, but from vessel traffic. When there are no vessels for months on end, the company still retains its staff and equipment, because when traffic resumes, they will need to respond immediately. But without voyages, there is no revenue. This isn’t simply putting operations on hold; it’s depleting our financial reserves,” noted Serhiy Nazarenko.

Serhiy Nazarenko also drew attention to the situation facing tug and pilotage services. Their work requires trained crews, equipment, the relevant licences and knowledge of the waterways. If shifts are reduced due to a prolonged period of inactivity, some specialists may leave the industry. In that case, even after the ports reopen, it will be more difficult to resume their operations quickly.

A similar situation, in his view, is unfolding for agents and berth operators, whose work depends on vessel calls. Whilst the fleet is not calling at the ports of Greater Odesa, companies are losing revenue, and a prolonged period of inactivity may force them to mothball their equipment, reduce shifts or cease operations.

— If maritime operations do not resume within the next six months, the port’s service infrastructure will shrink. ‘Axon Port Service’ and similar companies are maintaining operational readiness at their own expense. A prolonged downtime does not just erode profits, but also the industry’s ability to receive ships again. It is not enough simply to open a berth; there must be people left there who know how to handle that ship,’ concluded Serhiy Nazarenko.

According to Serhiy Nazarenko, retaining port crews during downtime is vital for the subsequent resumption of port operations, as it will be impossible to quickly replace lost specialists and the experience they have accumulated.

Description: Serhiy Nazarenko, co-owner of the tugboat company ‘Axon Port Service’, stated that the prolonged downtime at deep-water ports could lead to a reduction in the number of port service companies and the loss of specialists.