Ukraine: Customs Fines at the Port of Nikolayev

Correspondents remind that before entering a Ukrainian port, the Customs’ declaration should be completed to its fullest. It should include medicines (drugs), cash (both that of the ship and the crew members), paints, fuels (all grades), oils and other stores and various commodities on board. It is reported that Nikolaev Customs officers may carry out soundings of the ship’s bunker tanks and if any discrepancy between their findings and figures declared by the vessel is found, a fine is inevitable.

It is understood that the level of the fine is calculated as double the cost of goods that Customs consider to be ‘undeclared’. Inaccurately declared bunkers are leading to particularly high fines.

The earlier recommendation to Members with vessels trading to Ukrainian ports still stands – ensure that crews pay special attention to accurately completing customs declarations.

17 June 2016

North’s local P&I correspondents Dias & Co have advised of an upsurge of instances where customs fines have been imposed for inaccuracies in ship’s declarations.

In accordance with Ukrainian customs laws, the attending customs officials are entitled to inspect all areas of a ship.  If undeclared or inaccurately declared items are discovered during the course of such an inspection then a fine twice the value of those items will be imposed.

Customs declarations should also include the likes of: medicines; currency/cash (both that of the ship and crew); tins of paint/oil; bunkers/bulk lube oils; spares/stores; consumables; and foodstuffs.

We recommend that Members with vessels trading to Ukrainian ports ensure that crews pay special attention to accurately completing customs declarations.