Companies@UA: База компаний Украины

Kyiv, July 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Supreme Economic Court of Ukraine last week suspended a ruling of previous court instances on the breaking of an agreement on joint activity between Illichivsk maritime merchant port and Ukrtranscontainer, according to a press release of National Container Company (Russia), the parent company of Ukrtranscontainer.

According to the press release, the decision is in effect until an appeal from Ukrtranscontainer is viewed. The first hearing on the appeal is scheduled for August 26, 2009.

According to National Container Company, in spite of the court decision, the management has not permitted Ukrtranscontainer to restart work at the terminal for a week.

As reported, on June 26, Odesa Regional Economic Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by Ukrtranscontainer.

The Odesa Regional Economic Court on May 12 declared an agreement on joint activity made between Illichivsk maritime merchant port and private enterprise Ukrtranscontainer invalid due to the violation of the agreement by Ukrtranscontainer.

Earlier, the prosecutor's office of Odesa region appealed to the court with a claim in favor of the Transport and Communications Ministry on breaking joint activity agreement No.435-O.

According to the prosecutor's office, the main violations are Ukrtranscontainer's untimely contribution to the development of joint activity and as a result, the non-fulfillment of the container terminal's planned indicators. Among other violations are transferring money in a currency not foreseen by the agreement, the seizure and improper use of property, the financing of the company's own expenses using funds from joint activity, and the company's refusal to refund the port expenses linked with joint activity.

The port of Illichivsk is one of the four largest Ukrainian ports. It has the capacity to handle more than 30 million tonnes of cargo annually. It has a 6,000-meter long quay with 29 berths. It also has three railway entry points and three checkpoints for road transport at the port.

In 2008, the port increased cargo turnover by 18% compared to 2007, to 18.9 million tonnes.