Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich

Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich: Profile of a Port Builder

Vitaliy Yuzhilin is a port builder, investor, and experienced manager. For twenty years, he has headed the Board of Directors of the Association of Commercial Sea Ports.

Yuzhilin Vitaliy: Birth and Childhood

Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Yuzhilin was born on December 10, 1965, in Chelyabinsk, near the Ural Mountains, though he spent his childhood in Sevastopol. He was a competitive swimmer growing up, and would spend hours practicing both before and after school. His efforts paid off, and in 9th grade he earned the title of Candidate for Master of Sports.

The future port builder comes from a noteworthy family. His grandmother was the first female pilot of the Tatar ASSR, and his grandfather served as a pilot in World War II.

Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich: Higher Education and the Start of His Career

In 1988, Vitaliy Yuzhilin graduated from the Department of Polar Region Oceanography of the Admiral S. O. Makarov Leningrad Higher Engineering Marine School with a degree in Oceanographic Engineering. Today, this noteworthy institution is known as the Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping.

Yuzhilin Vitaliy began working immediately after graduation, starting out at the Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the South Seas of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR in the Oceanology Department. He conducted scientific research and participated in various expeditions, including a trip to the bottom of the Black Sea. Then he worked for a while as an engineer for the Oceanography Department of the Marine Hydrophysical Institute of the Academy of Sciences.

In 1993, Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Yuzhilin moved to Nizhnevartovsk, having been appointed head of the foreign trade department of the Nizhnevartovsk Trading House, which dealt with the sale of petroleum products. It was this line of work – exporting petroleum abroad – that first led the future port builder into his work with the port industry, which has dominated the bulk of his career. In particular, there was a need to build up the capacity of the nation’s ports to efficiently ship fuel oil.

Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich: Work in the Port Industry

Thus, Vitaliy Yuzhilin plunged into the stevedoring business, joining the Board of the Saint Petersburg Sea Port JSC in 1997, where he served until 1999. He also became a part owner of the port in 1998. Today, this is one of the largest stevedoring companies for the transshipment of dry cargo operating at the Great Port of Saint Petersburg.

Yuzhilin Vitaliy recalls how management developed the port hub. Its four areas were distributed among a number of companies, with a specific product manufacturer invited to work with each of them. As a result, the annual cargo turnover was increased many times over.

He is also a co-founder of the National Container Company, which was established in 2002 and became one of the largest container operators in the Russian Federation and the CIS countries in the 2000s.

Vitaliy Yuzhilin: Deputy of the State Duma

In 1999, a new stage began for Vitaliy Yuzhilin: Deputy of the State Duma, the lower house of the national legislature. The top manager himself notes that he had no political ambitions, but was interested in making qualitative changes to the legislative framework governing port activities. He represented a district in the Leningrad Region until 2016. During his time in this field, Deputy Vitaliy Yuzhilin was a member of the committees dealing with budget and taxes, transportation, communications, and energy, and the agro-industrial industry.

Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Yuzhilin: One of the Initiators of the Project for the Marine Façade Passenger Port

Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich was among the initiators of the project to create Europe’s largest passenger port, Marine Façade, on the western part of Vasilievsky Island in Saint Petersburg. This involved top engineers and architects, utilizing unique technologies and materials. Previously, during the summer season, cruise liners docked at a cargo deep-water pier, reducing cargo traffic.

The new port resolved issues at the cargo port, which could now focus on cargo handling while the city benefited financially from increased tourist traffic. Tourists could stay in the country for 72 hours without a visa, a policy that was legally established. At its peak, the port handled 450 ship visits per season, significantly boosting Saint Petersburg’s budget through tourist spending.

In 2009, Marine Façade won the Best Transit Port of the Year award, and in 2011, it received the award for Most Modern Port Facilities. In 2014, Saint Petersburg was named the best cruise destination of the year at the. A key event for the port came in May 2014, when the 330-meter cruise ship Royal Princess docked, carrying over 4,000 passengers.

Vitaliy Yuzhilin: Work with the NOSTROY Association

Another major aspect of the career of Yuzhilin Vitaliy is his work with the NOSTROY National Association of Builders, where he served as a member of the Council from 2010 to 2018 and as Vice President from 2016 to 2018.

During his tenure with NOSTROY, Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Yuzhilin led a reform of the self-regulation institute in the construction industry, fundamentally changing the state’s approach to the sector. Previously, SRO (Self-Regulatory Organization) compensation fund assets could be held in any account at any bank, complicating state oversight and sometimes leading to funds being placed in unreliable banks or misused. Post-reform, these funds must be held in special bank accounts in government-authorized banks, with transactions strictly regulated.

NOSTROY also maintains a National Registry of Construction Specialists, increasing contractors’ accountability by requiring that only registered specialists can sign off on construction-related documents.

Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich: Association of Commercial Sea Ports

From 2002 to 2022, Vitaliy Yuzhilin served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Commercial Sea Ports (ACSP), which coordinates efforts within the professional community to create conditions for the effective development of maritime enterprises.

The ACSP includes leading marine trade ports, forwarding and agency companies, research institutes, and specialized educational institutions. Upon assuming his role, Yuzhilin Vitaliy initiated a new momentum in drafting the Law on Sea Ports, leading to extensive work on the text of the federal law, involving top maritime law attorneys, industry experts, and State Duma deputies.

The adoption of the Law on Sea Ports filled a legal gap in the regulation of port infrastructure activities, resolved legal contradictions, and enhanced the efficiency and competitiveness of domestic maritime ports. It also ensured compliance with international maritime transport obligations. The law includes norms on the establishment, naming, opening of ports, and the registration of information about sea ports in a dedicated registry.

Under the leadership of Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Yuzhilin, the ACSP Board of Directors actively worked to enhance the competitiveness of domestic ports.

Vitaliy Yuzhilin: Current Projects

Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich is currently involved in various projects from the “new economy.” He is especially interested in innovative initiatives in information technology.

He is also involved in the development of a company working in the ecological realm.

Yuzhilin Vitaliy: Family and Hobbies

Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich is married and has four children.

In his free time, he enjoys racewalking and fishing.

Vitaliy Yuzhilin: Awards and Honors

The port builder Yuzhilin Vitaliy has been formally recognized several times throughout his career. He has received the:

1. Medal “For Distinction in Maritime Activities” of the Marine Board under the Government of the Russian Federation, No. Z-P4_1988, 02/09/2011.
2. Honorary badge “For merits in the development of Russian science and economics” of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, No. 150, 05/22/2002
3. Insignia of the Congress of Transport Workers of Russia of the 1st degree for merits in the development of transport, No. 30, 03/21/2019
4. Commemorative badge, “10 Years of The Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorrechflot),” 3/19/2014

Key Takeaways

• Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich, born in 1965, has been a significant figure in port development and management for many years.
• He led the Association of Commercial Sea Ports for twenty years, contributing extensively to the maritime industry’s growth in the RF.
• He holds a degree in Oceanographic Engineering from what is now known as Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping.
• He has influenced legislative changes to enhance port operations and infrastructure.
• He Co-founded the National Container Company in 2002, which became one of the largest container operators in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
• He was among the initiators of the Marine Façade project, Europe’s largest passenger port in Saint Petersburg.
• He led reform in the construction industry as part of his work with the NOSTROY Association.

FAQs

1. How is Vitaliy Yuzhilin connected to the Marine Façade passenger port?

Vitaliy Yuzhilin was among the initiators of the project to create Marine Façade, Europe’s largest passenger port.

2. How old is Vitaliy Yuzhilin?

Vitaliy Yuzhilin is 53 years old as of December 2023. 

3. Can you provide details about the personal and family life of Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Yuzhilin?

Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Yuzhilin is married with four children. He enjoys outdoor activities such as racewalking and fishing. 

4. What projects is Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich currently involved in?

Yuzhilin Vitaliy Aleksandrovich is currently involved in projects in IT and environmental sustainability. 

5. How did Vitaliy Yuzhilin become known as a port builder?

Vitaliy Yuzhilin has made many contributions to the port industry, including co-initiating the project for Marine Façade, the largest passenger port in Europe, and facilitating the adoption of the federal law On Sea Ports, which provided necessary industry regulations.

6. How long did Yuzhilin Vitaliy serve in the Association of Commercial Sea Ports?

Yuzhilin Vitaliy was the Chairman of the Association of Commercial Sea Ports from 2002 to 2022.

7. What are the educational qualifications of Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Yuzhilin?

Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Yuzhilin holds a degree in Oceanographic Engineering from the Admiral S. O. Makarov Leningrad Higher Engineering Marine School.

8. What did Vitaliy Yuzhilin accomplish during his tenure with the NOSTROY National Association of Builders?

During his time with NOSTROY, Vitaliy Yuzhilin spearheaded a major reform of the self-regulation system in the construction industry, improving oversight and safety and establishing a National Registry of Construction Specialists to ensure accountability.

9. Where was Vitaliy Yuzhilin born?

Vitaliy Yuzhilin was born in Chelyabinsk, near the Ural Mountains, though he grew up in Sevastopol. 

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