National University “Odessa Maritime Academy” took part in the XXI International Black Sea Transport Forum (Trans Expo Odessa 2018) at the exhibition complex of Odessa Sea Port from 26 till 28 September, 2018. The events of the Forum were held under the auspices of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and Black and Azov Seas Ports Association (BASPA).

Within the framework of the forum the following events were held: 15th International Exhibition on Shipping, Shipbuilding and Ports Development «ODESSA 2018»; 21st Exhibition on Transport and Logistics «TRANSUKRAINE 2018»; Specialized exhibition «TRANSRAIL UKRAINE 2018»; Specialized exhibition «COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL TRANSPORT 2018». At the opening ceremony, Johannes Baur, the representative of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine; Eduard Hooks, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine; Mirce Chiprage, Secretary General of TRACECA; Istvan Heinzinger, Chief economist of the Transport Sector of European Investment Bank and others delivered welcoming remarks.

The participants of the event were the representatives of various international companies who participated in round tables and conferences on the following topics: Ukraininan ports and transport industry as a whole: Present and future; the training and certification of seafarers “Actual issues of the recruiting sector of Ukraine”; Safety of navigation in the Rhein-Danube Transport Corridor: issues of harmonization of regulatory documents, organization of navigation, use of RIS, ship and cargo handling in ports; marine cities of Ukraine etc.

 Vyacheslav Kislovsky, Head of the All–Ukrainian Association of Crewing Companies and M.V. Miyusov, the Rector of National University “Odessa Maritime Academy” became moderators of the round table on the training and certification of seafarers “Actual issues of the recruiting sector of Ukraine”. Besides, the meeting was attended by Alexander Sagaidak, Sea Captain, commercial Director of “Olvia Maritime” company; Yuriy Lakhno, the representative of “CREWELL” company; Serhiy Kudlinsky, Acting Head of the Inspectorate for Training and Certification of Seafarers and other spokesmen of the maritime community. The representatives of marine educational institutions, training centers and crewing companies of Ukraine were invited as well.

The round table programme included the following topics: results of inspections of Ukraine by EMSA and IMO inspectors, conclusions and proposals; issues of improving the quality of maritime personnel training, risks and prospects; prospects for the job market development for Ukrainian seafarers, the role of the state in this process; Internet-recruiting, data verification; recommendations of the round table participants on the implementation of ways of addressing the issues. When discussing the speech of the Rector of NU «OMA», the issues of standards and programmes for seafarers’ training, undergoing shipboard training, review of regulatory acts on seafarers’ certification and analysis of maritime educational institutions in Ukraine and abroad were considered.

At the end of the exhibition NU ”OMA” was awarded the Participant’s Diploma.