Naval Agency inspection capacity improved through EU funded training

Between February and March 2020 an operational strengthening mission was organised to improve the inspection capacity of the Moldovan Naval Agency (NARM) in the framework of the European Union (EU) funded technical assistance project “Support to the Reform of the  Transport Sector in the Republic of Moldova”.

Recently, the Naval Agency of Republic of Moldova (NARM) inspectors benefited from an on-job training related to Flag State and Port State Control inspections on ships hosted in Giurgiulesti Port. These inspections were carried out on the basis of legal and operational instruments and tools developed through the technical assistance project support.

The mission entailed assistance to NARM to develop and improve internal rules, procedures and regulations regarding Flag State and Port State control issues. The team of EU experts provided both on-job training and support aiming to further upgrade the Agency’s capacity and to prepare the ground to carry out ship inspections within the Giurgiulesti Port complex. This capacity building activity contributes to one of the technical assistance objectives which is training of Naval Agency staff and to transfer EU best practices for Flag and Port State control.

The Giurgiulesti port complex is the sole port of Moldova and includes the privately operated International Free Port Giurgiuleşti, with two operating berths on Danube and three operating berths on river Prut. One of the two Danube berths is dedicated to bulk liquids such as petroleum and chemical products. Also, the port comprises the state-owned cargo and passenger terminal of the Giurgiuleşti Port which is currently operating one berth on river Prut.

The main goal of the EU-funded project “Support to the Reform of the Transport Sector in the Republic of Moldova” is to contribute to the transport sector reform in line with the transport chapter of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement. Technical assistance and capacity building services are provided aiming to support legal approximation and policy development for the fulfilment of the commitments undertaken in the transport sector by the Republic of Moldova.