In Odessa, the city with strong historic and commercial bonds with Greece, the Ukrainian Marine Environment Protection Association - UKRMEPA was established on Monday, 17 December 2007.
Prof. Ι. Pupenko, Rector of the Odessa Institute of Postgraduate Education of Senior Managers of Water Transport, Prof. V. Torskiy, Honorary Secretary of the Nautical Institute of Ukraine, V. Lebedev, Expert - Consultant of the Law Firm International Law Offices, V. Chikanosvkiy, President of the Ukrainian Branch of the International Scientific Academy of Ecology, Human Safety and Environment Protection and A. Sagaydak, CEO of Equinox Ltd, cosigned the Inaugural Declaration of UKRMEPA. Titled "To Save the Seas", the Declaration of Voluntary Commitment of the new Association is based on the principles and philosophy of the Inaugural Declaration of HELMEPA.
These representatives of the maritime community of Ukraine pledged to use their experience and activity to raise the environmental consciousness of the country´s industry, shipping or other, as well as of the wider society through information, education and motivation of the human element.
The Declaration of UKRMEPA was endorsed by the Director General of HELMEPA, D. Mitsatsos, who emphasized in his speech that the protection of the marine environment and safety at sea are enhanced by the voluntary commitment of each and all of us through the operation of the network of MEPAs.
Besides Ukrainian crews working onboard Greek-owned ships, the country is connected to Greek shipping by the shipreparing/shipbuilding activity as well as its important ports in the Black and Azof Sea. These two sea areas receive land run-off from the biggest basin in the world which covers an area of 2 million square kilometers. And it is a natural consequence that the marine ecosystems in these areas receive all types of pollutants while their waters are renewed only approximately every 1,450 years!
From official web-site of HELMEPA http://www.helmepa.gr/en/news.php?target=art2
