PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OF MARITIME ACTIVITIES IN UKRAINE: PROBLEMS AND DECISIONS

Abstract

The article characterizes the current state and problematic aspects of public administration of maritime and related port activities in Ukraine. The urgency of the issue is due to the ongoing crisis in the legal and administrative regulation of these areas. The aim of the article is to establish optimal models and tools for constructing a new system of public administration of the maritime industry, taking into account international standards and best practices. The methodological basis of the research is formed by a system of general scientific and special legal methods of scientific research (historical, analysis and synthesis, scientific abstraction and forecasting). The article draws special attention to the fact that the declared revival and maintenance of the status of Ukraine as a maritime state, the development of its maritime trade and naval potential can not occur only due to situational changes in response to crisis events or to accelerate the decision of problems which have not been resolved for decades. Here, a different, systemic approach to both legal regulation and the practice of implementing the adopted legal norms should be introduced, a new approach to public administration of the entire industry. The author classifies measures to overcome the port crisis in Ukraine into financial, infrastructural and operational ones. It is proposed to repurpose the legal regulation and law enforcement practices to support public sector entities and seafarers-citizens of Ukraine, as well as to simplify formalities in the ports of Ukraine. The relevance of the concepts of anthropocentrism, service state and “good governance”, taking into account risk management systems at all levels for the modernization of public administration of maritime and port activities in Ukraine, is emphasized. The priority is to analyze the steps taken and systematically update the current maritime and port legislation using a “package” approach to its development. This approach enables to ensure that the interests of most maritime and port stakeholders and the state are taken into account and balanced.