Ukraine announces temporary corridors for merchant vessels sailing from its ports

New temporary routes have been announced for merchant vessels sailing to/from the Black Sea seaports of Ukraine. However, a risk remains from mines in the Black Sea and the military threat from Russia throughout all routes.

The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a post on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

“The routes have been announced in line with the order of the navigation report of Ukraine’s Navy, No.6, as of August 8, 2023,” the Ukrainian Navy said.

Previously, these routes had been proposed by Ukraine in an appeal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Council of the International Maritime Organization recognized Ukraine's right to free commercial navigation, which is guaranteed by international maritime law.

The IMO called on Russia to comply with international conventions and stop threats to merchant shipping in the Black Sea.

The routes will primarily be used for civilian ships which have been in the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Pivdennyi since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.

Vessels whose owners/captains officially confirm that they are ready to sail in the current conditions will be allowed to pass through the routes.

As the Ukrainian Navy reminded that the last vessel with Ukrainian food cargo left Odesa on July 16. After Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal, the aggressor state attacked the port's grain infrastructure in order to stop the access of Ukrainian food products to world markets. World leaders, including African countries, called on Russia to stop using food products as blackmail and not to hinder Ukrainian agricultural exports.

As reported by Ukrinform, the National Security Council of Türkiye called for an end to the war and the resumption of the grain corridor, saying that the escalation of tensions in the Black Sea does not meet the interests of any of the parties.