A convoy of four ships loaded with food departed from two Ukrainian ports on Wednesday, the Anadolu agency said with the reference to the Turkish Defense Ministry.
The ships, carrying sunflower oil, oil cake and corn, sailed out of Odesa and Chornomorsk, the ministry said.
On July 22, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations signed two documents to create a corridor for grain exports from three Ukrainian seaports: Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdenny. The parties also established the joint coordination center monitoring food supplies that brings together representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN.
In all, 25 ships loaded with food have departed from Ukrainian ports since August 1 consistent with the agreement.
Five ships loaded with grain, including corn and wheat, departed Ukrainian ports on Tuesday, the Anadolu news agency reported with reference to the Turkish Defense Ministry.
Two ships left Pivdenny port and three others Chornomorsk port, it said.
The Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul is also set to inspect four vessels en route for Ukraine to be loaded with grain on Tuesday.
Participants in four-sided negotiations (the United Nations, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine) signed two documents in Istanbul on July 22 regulating the functioning of a sea corridor for exporting grain from the Ukrainian seaports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdenny.
The second caravan of four vessels under the Istanbul Grain Initiative left Ukrainian ports on Sunday morning, the total tonnage increased to almost 170,000 tons, sunflower oil and sunflower seeds appeared in addition to corn.
“The second caravan with Ukrainian food has just left the ports of Odessa and Chornomorsk – 3 ships from Chornomorsk and one more from Odessa. There are almost 170 thousand tons of agricultural products on board 4 bulk carriers Mustafa Necati, Star Helena, Glory and Riva Wind” , – the Ukrainian Sea Ports Administration reported on Facebook.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense on Twitter, the Riva Wind ship is heading to Iskenderun with 44,000 tons of corn, Mustafa Necati – to Italy with 6,000 tons of sunflower oil, Star Helena – to China with 45,000 tons of sunflower seeds and Glory – to Istanbul with 66 thousand tons of corn.
“The vessels will be anchored north of Istanbul and will be inspected by the Joint Coordination Centre,” the Turkish Defense Ministry specified.
As reported, on July 22 in Istanbul, at the proposal of the UN, Ukraine, Turkey and UN Secretary-General António Guteres signed the Initiative for the safe transportation of grain and food from the Ukrainian ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny.
As part of the implementation of agreements with a cargo of Ukrainian corn, 4 ships have already been sent with more than 80 thousand tons of corn: Razoni, Navi Star, Rojen and Polarnet.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, Second caravan, UKRAINIAN PORTS, VESSELS
The export of Ukrainian grain will be launched primarily from Chornomorsk commercial sea port (Odesa region).
“We believe that within the next 24 hours we will be ready to work on resuming the export of agricultural products from our ports. We are talking about the port of Chornomorsk, it will be the first. Then there will be the port of Odesa and the port of Pivdenny,” the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Ukraine Yuriy Vaskov said during a briefing in Kyiv on Monday.
According to him, within two weeks the Infrastructure Ministry will be technically ready to export from all terminals of the three seaports of the country.
The first shipment of grain, according to Vaskov, is expected this week.
Italy, if necessary, is ready to take part in mine clearance operations at Ukrainian ports in order to ensure the exit of ships with grain from them, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Wednesday.
“We are putting pressure on the creation of sea corridors for the transportation of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports, especially grain. To do this, it is necessary to clear the sea areas near the ports, especially near Odessa,” Sole 24 Ore quoted him as saying.
“Italy has expressed its willingness to participate in demining operations. We want the UN to play a central role in conducting and coordinating operations, along with other partners such as Turkey,” Di Maio added.
He noted that the export of grain would be possible “with Russian guarantees for the safety of ships and their cargo.”
The World Trade Organization (WTO) will consider unblocking Ukrainian ports for food security at the 12th Ministerial Conference on June 12-15 in Geneva.
“We are grateful for the personal efforts of the Director General of the WTO to find a solution to the logistics of Ukrainian grain, so important for Ukraine, Africa and the world. Free and fair trade will save the world from hunger and poverty,” the press service quoted the First Deputy Prime Minister as saying. Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko following her meeting with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okondji-Ivela at the World Economic Forum.
During the meeting, the parties also agreed on cooperation on the eve of the 12th Ministerial Conference.
