LEGAL MEASURES TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN WATER TRANSPORT UNDER MARTIAL LAW

Abstract

This article explores the legal and organizational mechanisms for ensuring the security of water transport in Ukraine during wartime.

The ongoing full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which has been escalating since 2014 and reached its peak with the invasion of February 24, 2022, has significantly affected all spheres of public life, including maritime and inland waterway transport. The security environment for water transport has been radically destabilized due to targeted missile strikes on critical transport infrastructure, including port facilities and civilian vessels. The blockade of key sea and river ports has severely restricted their regular operation, resulting in substantial economic and logistical challenges.

It offers an analysis of national legislation and international treaties, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, emphasizing their role in shaping the current legal framework. The research identifies that

Ukrainian legislation, including the Merchant Shipping Code and relevant government regulations, was primarily designed for peacetime conditions and requires urgent modernization to address contemporary security threats. The study highlights the importance of adapting legal norms to the realities of martial law and hybrid warfare, ensuring the resilience of port infrastructure, and enhancing institutional capacity for risk prevention and emergency response. Moreover, the article outlines the need for strategic investments in port modernization, international cooperation, and the implementation of the 2024 Maritime Security Strategy of Ukraine as a key tool in countering maritime threats and restoring national control over sea spaces and occupied coastal regions. The findings advocate for a proactive legal policy to improve the security of maritime navigation and to rebuild a stable and investment-friendly environment for Ukraine’s maritime and inland water transport sector under ongoing military threats.