KIEV, Aug. 11 – The chief audit department in Odessa region uncovered several infringements worth a total of UAH 1.084 billion during checks on the economic and financial operations of Odessa maritime merchandise port for the period from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010, reads a press release of the department issued on Thursday.

The press release says that infringements that led to the loss of financial resources came to UAH 914.7 million.

It was established during the check that due to the leasing of 71 out of 84 port cranes by the port's top managers to subsidiary Hamburg Port Consulting GmbH, MetalsUkraine Corp Ltd, Novoloh, Ukrainian National Stevedoring Company, Novotech Terminal, Brookline-Kiev, the stevedoring companies are actually monopolists in the use of berths at the port.