---
title: "«This doesn't exist»: Ukraine's maritime industry refutes allegations of \"shadow fees\" on the Danube amid suspension of the head of the Shipping Administration"
description: "Ukraine's maritime industry refuted allegations of \"shadow fees\" on the Danube and noted reforms in the Shipping Administration. The Cabinet of Ministers suspended the head of the agency, Serhiy Hurskyi, from his position."
date: 2026-09-18T06:02:15.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraines-maritime-industry-refutes-shadow-fee-allegations-danube-shipping-administration
tags: [ukraine, maritime-industry, shipping-administration, danube, ukrport, corruption, government, digitalization, seafarers]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# «This doesn't exist»: Ukraine's maritime industry refutes allegations of "shadow fees" on the Danube amid suspension of the head of the Shipping Administration

![Meeting on Danube shipping issues: gathering of Ukrainian maritime industry representatives at a conference table against the backdrop of the national flag](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/19/morskaya-otrasl-oproverzhaet-obvinyeniya-tenevye-stavki-dunay-administraciya-sudohodstva/morskaya-otrasl-oproverzhaet-obvinyeniya-tenevye-stavki-dunay-administraciya-sudohodstva-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The Association of Ports of Ukraine "UKRPORTR" refuted the claim of a "shadow fee" of 30,000–50,000 dollars for a vessel's place in the queue on the Danube
- According to the AMPU, the organization of vessel operations and the determination of the order of processing do not fall within the powers of the Shipping Administration
- Industry organizations note the digitization of procedures, a 50% increase in the issuance of seafarer identity documents, and a systematic dialogue with the regulator
- On September 9, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers initiated disciplinary proceedings against Serhiy Hurskyi and suspended him from his position; the results of the investigation are expected by October 23, 2026

A public controversy has erupted around the head of Ukraine's Shipping Administration, Serhiy Hurskyi, which representatives of the maritime industry characterize as a "black" PR campaign. Against the backdrop of an ongoing political attack, industry organizations, by contrast, are noting practical changes in the agency's work: improved services for seafarers, digitization of procedures, and the establishment of a systematic dialogue with the professional community. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing comments from representatives of the maritime industry.

### "Shadow fee" on the Danube: allegation and refutation

One of the most resonant claims in the public campaign of People's Deputy Anna Skokhokh was the statement about an alleged "shadow fee" of 30,000–50,000 dollars for a vessel's place in the queue on the Danube. However, the Association of Ports of Ukraine "UKRPORTR" (Ukrainian Ports Association) stated that it has no confirmed information about such payments and has not received any corresponding inquiries from its members. The president of "UKRPORTR," Dmytro Barinov, who recently visited the Danube region and held meetings with representatives of private terminals, state ports, the AMPU, and the business community, emphasized that the conversations focused on real shipping problems — the throughput capacity of the Sulynsk (Sulin) lock, the shallowing of the Danube, and procedural issues. "This doesn't exist," Barinov stated, adding that port operators, freight forwarders, and agents are primarily interested in increasing the number of vessel operations, not in creating artificial barriers.

### Delimitation of powers: what falls within the competence of the Shipping Administration

Industry representatives also point to the need for a clear delimitation of the powers of state bodies. According to the AMPU, the Sulynsk lock is managed by the Romanian AFDJ, while the planning of vessel operations in Ukrainian ports is carried out on the basis of confirmations from the port operator, the maritime agent, and the port administration. The main factor in forming the queue is the date of confirmation of the vessel for handling. Thus, the organization of vessel operations, the determination of the order of processing, and cargo operations do not fall within the powers of the Shipping Administration, which calls into question the validity of a number of public accusations directed at the agency.

### Digitization and dialogue with seafarers: what has changed in three months

Particular attention should be paid to the changes in interaction with the Shipping Administration on issues concerning the work of Ukrainian seafarers. The head of the All-Ukrainian Crewing Association, Pavlo Nykytyk, notes that state procedures for processing documents and confirming the qualifications of seafarers are gradually being improved and digitized. According to him, interaction between the professional community and the Administration has become more systematic, and attention to the transparency and efficiency of procedures has grown noticeably. In particular, the industry notes the cancellation of an additional certificate, which had previously been flagged by colleagues from the NGO "Together Against Corruption," as well as a 50% increase in the issuance of seafarer identity documents. "Yes, there is still work to be done, but in three months there was a very powerful start," the specialists summarize. These areas were among the priorities announced after Hurskyi's appointment to the post in May 2026, when the new leadership outlined the tasks of digitizing services, developing international cooperation, and ensuring the timely provision of services to seafarers.

### Contradictory data

There are a number of significant discrepancies between the positions of the parties. On the one hand, People's Deputy Anna Skokhokh publicly claims the existence of a "shadow fee" of 30,000–50,000 dollars for a vessel's place in the queue on the Danube, which, in her version, indicates corruption in the system. On the other hand, "UKRPORTR" categorically denies having confirmed information about such payments, and the association's president, Dmytro Barinov, who held direct meetings with market participants in the Danube region, states: "This doesn't exist." Moreover, according to the AMPU, the organization of vessel operations and the determination of the order of processing do not fall within the competence of the Shipping Administration, which casts doubt on the very subject of the accusations. Until the official investigation is completed, it is impossible to give a final assessment of the validity of the claims.

### Disciplinary proceedings and prospects

For the maritime industry, the stable work of the regulator is of particular importance: Ukrainian shipbuilding, ship repair, and port infrastructure operate under difficult conditions, so it is critically important to maintain ongoing processes, the continuity of services, and professional dialogue. The head of the Public Union "Maritime Cluster of Ukraine," Artem Vashtshenko, emphasizes that the public conflict over the leadership of the Shipping Administration should not halt the changes and reforms that have been initiated. Meanwhile, the claims against the head of the agency remain the subject of an official investigation: on September 9, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers initiated disciplinary proceedings against Serhiy Hurskyi and suspended him from his duties. The commission is to inform the government of the results of its work by October 23, 2026. Until the completion of this investigation, any conclusions about the validity of the accusations are premature, and the public campaign around Hurskyi, in the opinion of industry experts, requires a separate review of its factual basis.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Results instead of accusations: the maritime industry names positive changes in the Shipping Administration](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zamist-zvinuvachen-rezultati-morska-galuz-1789669200.html) - Основной источник фактов: цитаты УКРПОРТ, АМПУ, Всеукраинского объединения крюингов, Общественного союза «Морской кластер Украины». Подтверждены даты дисциплинарного производства (9 сентября 2026) и дедлайн комиссии (23 октября 2026).
- [The maritime industry notes positive changes in the Shipping Administration](https://novosti.ua/society/morskaya-otrasl-nazvala-polozhitelnye-izmeneniya-v-administratsii-sudohodstva) - Дополнительный источник, подтверждающий общую линию: отраслевые организации отмечают позитивные изменения в работе Администрации судоходства на фоне публичной критики.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What is the "shadow fee" on the Danube, and has it been confirmed?
**A:** People's Deputy Anna Skokhokh claimed the existence of an informal payment of 30,000–50,000 dollars for a vessel's place in the queue on the Danube. The Association of Ports of Ukraine "UKRPORTR" stated that it has no confirmed information about such payments and has not received inquiries from association members. The president of "UKRPORTR," Dmytro Barinov, after his visit to the Danube region, stated: "This doesn't exist."

### Q: Does the organization of vessel operations on the Danube fall within the powers of the Shipping Administration?
**A:** No. According to the AMPU, the Sulynsk lock is managed by the Romanian AFDJ, while the planning of vessel operations in Ukrainian ports is carried out on the basis of confirmations from the port operator, the maritime agent, and the port administration. The organization of vessel operations, the determination of the order of processing, and cargo operations do not fall within the powers of the Shipping Administration.

### Q: What changes in the work of the Shipping Administration does the maritime industry note?
**A:** Industry representatives note the digitization of document-processing procedures for seafarers, the cancellation of an additional certificate, a 50% increase in the issuance of seafarer identity documents, and the establishment of a systematic dialogue with the professional community. These areas were announced as priorities after the appointment of Serhiy Hurskyi in May 2026.

### Q: What is the current status of the head of the Shipping Administration, Serhiy Hurskyi?
**A:** On September 9, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers initiated disciplinary proceedings against Serhiy Hurskyi and suspended him from his duties. The commission is to inform the government of the results of its work by October 23, 2026. Until the investigation is completed, no final assessment of the validity of the claims has been given.