Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry is conducting inspection of Mykolaiv maritime merchandise port and the branch of Ukrainian Sea Port Authority in Mykolaiv.

The ministry's press service reported that on November 16 a rally of representatives of the Mykolaiv branch of Ukrainian Sea Port Authority took place near the ministry's building. They demanded that the ministry interferes into the situation with the port concerning large-scale dismissals of employees, holding tenders in violation of legislation and other things.

"On Monday the inspection of the entire Mykolaiv port started. The inspection of the branch of Ukrainian Sea Port Authority will be carried out too and later Ukrainian Sea Port Authority. After the inspection staff decisions will be made. The facts presented by the employees of the enterprise will be studied during the inspection," Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan said.

He said that all tenders at Ukrainian Sea Port Authority are to be held via the ProZorro e-procurement system to void corruption risks.

"I gave an instruction to start corporatization of Ukrainian Sea Port Authority and move its head office back to Kyiv. We want to reform the maritime sector. At least 70% of revenue the ports receives should be left at the enterprise," he said.