YURI VASKOV: «BOTH MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND STATE PROPERTY FUND OF UKRAINE ARE READY TO CONSIDER THE RENEWAL OF LEASE OF AZOV SHIPYARD. SHIP-REPAIR YARD MUST BE KEPT WORKING»

Today within the frame of working visit in Priazovye, namely Mariupol and Berdiansk state ports, the Deputy minister of Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine Mr.Yuri Vaskov and the Head of SE “Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority” Mr. Andrey Amelin for the first time visited Azov Ship-repair Yard.
The need for management decision on the fate of the Azov shipyard in Mariupol was raised at the March meeting in Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine that led to visit and assess the situation directly at the production site.  
As, due to historical reasons, the dockers and repairers work closely together, the members of the ministerial delegation were delivered to the territory of the shipyard by sea, through the outside port on the Mariupol port’s tow “Captain Merkulov”, straight up to the floating bridge at dock.
130 years ago these were ship repair workshops that started the history of large Mariupol port, for which until today the proximity of the production area of ASRZ is of strategic importance.  Here the full range of ship-repair works is performed and basic maintenance services are rendered to port fleet.
At the Azov Shipyard the members of the delegation were welcomed by the General director Dmitriy Lyashov, Executive director of managing company «MIG» Oleg Ivanyushenko and Mariupol media. Guests visited the most important production sites of Yard: dry floating dock, where were built and repaired more than one hundred vessels of technical, civil and military fleet; cargo-handling and ship- repair berths; machining and grab areas of engineering production. They climbed aboard the only in Ukraine diesel-electric icebreaker “Captain Belousov”.
Answering the questions about the purpose of the visit to Priazovye, Yuri Vaskov highlighted the importance of marine industry enterprises of the region.
"Despite all the difficulties, due to the location in the zone of ATO, the region is fully functional- think the Deputy minister. -Seaports, and we talk primarily about them, bring significant incomes to the state budget of Ukraine and have great potential for development. Taken into account the role of marine enterprises in the transport system of Ukraine, we, undoubtedly, have an obligation to come here and place greater focus on them; no less than on crowded waters ports - Odessa and Nikolayev.
The Deputy minister assessed the activity and technical condition, and discussed with the representatives of the ASRZ management the topical problems of repairers.
“Today the enterprise operates not at full capacity, faces legal complications, as the State Property Fund is in litigation with it. And these are difficulties of not one day, and they are connected with objective reasons and possibly subjective ones. It is important, that there are no arrears of wages. And the rest needs more time to take it all in. The Court's final decision is expected as early as this month, - underlined Mr. Vaskov, sharing his impressions of the visit. – And the destiny of enterprises and of more than 1000 of its employees is of great interest to anyone who is related to the region and its infrastructure to a greater or lesser degree.
The task of the government authorities is not to allow the complete freezing of the enterprise’s activity. This is especially important for Mariupol. First of all we should accommodate the interests of the work team. We stand for the full working week and respectable wages.
As for the work of that particular lease holder ("SRZ" Ltd), in case the Court find the possibility to apply for renewal of lease in the future (as the lease period in any case ends in June 2016), both the Ministry of infrastructure, and the State property Fund of Ukraine are ready to consider the extension. That is, if the  management of the yard presents distinct  program of providing the full-time work,  the preservation and growth of social standards, ensured work load.
The receiving party called this visit a good sign. All the 2015 year the enterprise management has been trying to reach officials of various ministries and departments in the search of constructive settlement of the enterprise problems. Today the opportunity to be heard has appeared.
"First and foremost, I am sincerely grateful to Mr.Vaskov, - told the General director of Azov Shipyard Dmitriy Lyashov. - Because this is for the first time during the difficult period of crisis in relations with the State Property Fund, when high-level public officials from the Ministry of infrastructure and Authorities of Seaports of Ukraine emphasize with our problem. We consider this visit as the most effective measure under the circumstances. So, Mr. Vaskov and Mr. Amelin had the opportunity to see by themselves the technical condition of the plant and its main facilities, see the platform on which we have more to survive than to make profits. It must be seen as the beacon of hope that the officials of such level show interest, understanding and desire to get outside of the problems and managed the situation in such a way as to satisfy the work collective, and the lessee, and the State ".
"We talk openly about problems that militate against proper functioning, - summarized the Executive director of MC «MIG» Oleg Ivanyushenko, - and Deputy minister knows this. So, I hope that in further discussions we won't swordplay: who’s right, who's wrong, but what should we do to ensure the work and prosperity of the enterprise”.