KYIV: Ukraine on Thursday announced a humanitarian corridor to let dozens of cargo vessels stranded in its ports since the eruption of war with Russia last year sail into the Black Sea, where shipping lanes are under scrutiny since Moscow abondoned an agreement to allow grain exports.
Initially, the corridor appears to apply to container ships that have been stranded in Ukrainian ports since the February 2022 invasion, and were not covered by the agreement that opened the ports for grain shipments last year, according to media reports.
But it could be a big test of Kyiv’s prowess to reopen sea lanes at a time when Russia is seriously trying reimpose its blockade, quitting the grain agreement in July.
Ukraine navy
The Ukrainian navy said in a statement that the sea lanes had already been proposed by Kyiv directly to the IMO (International Maritime Organization).
The routes would mainly be used for civilian vessels which have been in the Ukrainian ports of Pivdenny, Odesa, and Chornomorsk since the beginning of the aggression by Russia on 24 February last year.
The statement said that ships whose captains and owners officially confirm that they are prepared to sail in the present conditions would be permitted to pass through the sea lanes.
It added that a risk remained from mines in the Black Sea and the threat from Russia.
