The purpose of the event was to introduce the members of the board and the company's management, discuss the state of the enterprise and the industry, and plan the first meeting of the Supervisory Board, which will be held in early September.
The Supervisory Board includes leading industry experts from Ukraine and Europe:
• Benoit Pleska (Belgium) - Independent member of the Supervisory Board
Partner in the NGO Roof & Food, Romania, former Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ukrposhta;
• Michael Jorgensen (Denmark) - Independent Member of the Supervisory Board
Former CFO of Pacific Basin Group;
• Dennis Lent Olesen (Denmark) - Independent Member of the Supervisory Board
Chief Operating Officer of APM Terminals Europe and Africa;
• Andriy Kashuba (Ukraine) - Member of the Supervisory Board - State Representative
Deputy Minister of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine;
• Taras Boychuk (Ukraine) - Member of the Supervisory Board - State Representative
Managing Partner of LLC "Spilno", Consultant of the World Bank Group, Head of the Project Office for Public-Private Partnerships "SPILNO" under the Ministry of Development and Trade (advisory and advisory body).
"The state is interested in the development of the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company, as it is a strategically important enterprise for our industry, the Danube region and the economic security of the country. I hope thatand the fruitful work of the Supervisory Board, because its activities will accelerate the development of the company, strengthen its position in the market, allow attracting foreign capital and new cargo flows. This, in turn, will improve the financial and economic condition of the enterprise and create opportunities for fleet modernization. This is how we will ensure the stable functioning of export routes and reliable development of the Danube region,” said Andriy Kashuba.
Since 2022, the enterprise has been facing unprecedented challenges: the loss of more than half of the cargo base, falling rates and fierce competition.
According to the director, Igor Chertov, the UDP strategy in 2025 includes:
• cost optimization and staff restructuring;
• attracting new contracts (transportation in the Black Sea and Danube regions);
• modernization of the fleet and production base;
• creation of a modern training complex for crew training.
The first meeting of the Supervisory Board became the starting point in establishing a new company management system and its integration into a modern economic model. Harmonious cooperation between the state and business should be the key to restoring the competitiveness of the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company and the sustainable development of the Danube region.
Why the Danube region is strategic for Ukraine
With the beginning of a full-scale war, the ports of the Danube region took on a strategically important function - they became an alternative to the blocked Black Sea ports and the only safe channel for Ukrainian exports.
The launch of the Grain Initiative, and later the Ukrainian Sea Corridor, allowed for the partial restoration of cargo transshipment in the ports of the Odessa region.
At the same time, the further development of the Danube ports is of key importance for the economic security of the state and the preservation of jobs in the Danube region.
For reference.
Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (PJSC "UDP") is a state-owned shipping company that carries out cargo and passenger transportation by river and sea transport, and also has its own shipbuilding and ship repair plant in Kiliya.