“Any documents – whether certificate of competency or seafarer’s identity document – issued after 15 July 2014 by the so-called “harbour masters” of the seaports in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, are null and void, have no legal effect and, by its very nature, should be considered fraudulent” – the information document submitted by the Ukrainian Side says.

The delegation of Ukraine also drew attention of IMO Member States to the procedures, which remain in force, for issue of certificates of competency and seafarers’ identity documents by legitimate authorities of the Ukrainian Side (seaports of Chornomorsk, Izmail, Kherson, Mariupol, Mykolaiv and Odessa).

After consideration, the IMO Sub-Committee noted the information submitted by the Ukrainian Side on the non-recognition of seafarers’ certificates issued in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

As it is known, Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine “On Securing Citizens’ Rights and Freedom and the Legal Regime in the Temporarily Occupied Territory of Ukraine” stipulates that any bodies, their officials and officers in the temporarily occupied territory and their activities shall be considered illegal if these authorities or persons are established, elected or appointed in the manner not provided by law. Any act (decision, document) issued by the mentioned authorities and/or persons is invalid and does not create legal consequences. Pursuant to the order of the Ministry of infrastructure of Ukraine of 16 June 2014 “On closure of seaports” the seaports of Feodosiya, Kerch, Sevastopol, Yalta and Yevpatoriya were closed and all documents issued by harbour masters of the seaports after 15 July 2014 are unlawful.