Ukraine and IMO unite against shadow fleet: what threats

Meeting in London

According to hvylya.net: First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kyslytsia met in London with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the state and prospects of cooperation between Ukraine and the IMO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

Serhiy Kyslytsia emphasized the importance of the IMO's technical assistance program for Ukraine, which involves the presence of Organization experts directly in Ukraine and the implementation of three key components - assessing the needs of maritime infrastructure, preparing a national oil spill response plan, and implementing a Single Window system.

The Ukrainian side expressed concern about the increasing activity of the so-called 'shadow fleet' - a network of vessels that systematically violate international norms, operate without proper technical oversight, and pose a serious threat to navigation safety and the marine environment. In this context, the Secretary-General informed about the measures that the IMO is taking to combat this phenomenon as part of the fight against so-called 'substandard shipping', the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted.

The interlocutors paid special attention to the results of the Secretary-General of the IMO's visit to Ukraine in March 2025.

During the meeting in London, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Secretary-General of the IMO discussed cooperation between Ukraine and the organization, as well as expressed concern regarding the 'shadow fleet' and agreed on measures to counter this phenomenon.