Coast Guard: Twinning Program with Ukrainian Maritime Administration Launched

From 28 to 31 October, a delegation from the Ukrainian Maritime Administration visited Genoa for the launch of the project, funded by the European Union, called Institutional Support to the State Service for Maritime, Inland Waterway Transport and Shipping of Ukraine. This is an initiative aimed at providing support to Ukraine in adapting its national regulations to European and international standards in the maritime transport sector.

The so-called twinning, or twinning, as the instrument is called, already used in the past in other contexts such as Turkey, is a Union tool through which a Member State commits expertise and resources to a “friendly” country, a possible candidate to join Europe.

The European Union, after a careful selection, has chosen the Italian project, proposed by the Port Authority Corps – Coast Guard in partnership with the Merchant Navy Academy Foundation of Genoa, approving its 24-month work program. The activity will involve the training centers of Genoa and Messina as well as Coast Guard experts from all over the Peninsula and will provide training to Ukrainian officials and operators in the areas of navigation safety, search and rescue and traffic monitoring, port state and flag control activities.

This is a project that involves the skills of the Port Authority – Coast Guard at 360 degrees, for which the General Commander himself, Admiral Chief Inspector Nicola Carlone, has spent words of strong support, underlining its importance and confirming the firm determination to provide the contribution of the Italian Coast Guard. The visit, attended by the Head of the Ukrainian Maritime Administration along with five other officials, formally launched the twinning works, with the signing of the work plan for the next 12 months and was an opportunity for a direct acquaintance with the personnel involved.

The official greeting of the Italian Administration to the delegation was offered by the Maritime Director of Liguria, Admiral Inspector Piero Pellizzari, who received the Head of the delegation Dr. Yevhenii Ihnatenko.