First Food Ship Sets Sail for the Black Sea from Odesa Despite Russian Threats

The maiden vessel has ventured into the Black Sea from Odesa, defying Russia's warnings, in a temporary corridor designated for commercial ships to and from the ports of Odesa.

This development has been reported by the BBC.

The container ship, named "JOSEPH SCHULTE," sailing under the flag of Hong Kong, has departed from the port of Odesa and is following a temporary corridor established for civilian vessels to access or leave the Black Sea ports of Ukraine.

On August 16, 2023, after being docked at the Odesa port since February 23, 2022, the container ship sailed past the Vorontsov Lighthouse and is en route to the Bosporus. The vessel is carrying over 30,000 tons of cargo (2,114 containers), including food supplies.

The Black Sea corridor will primarily serve the evacuation of ships that were present in Ukrainian ports, namely Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Pivdenne, during the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation.

According to navigation orders from the Ukrainian Navy, temporary routes for civilian vessels to and from Ukrainian Black Sea ports became effective on August 8, 2023.

Ukraine proposed this route in its appeal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO Council recognizes Ukraine's international rights to unhindered commercial shipping and urges Russia to cease all threats and adhere to international conventions.

The vessel's last departure under the Grain Agreement was on July 16 from the Odesa port. Following the agreement's collapse, the Russian Federation launched systematic aerial attacks on port infrastructure to halt Ukrainian agricultural exports. Specifically, before the ship left Odesa, Kyiv reported that Russian airstrikes damaged grain storage facilities in Reni, a river port on the Danube River located approximately 260 km (160 miles) southwest of Odesa. Ukrainian officials released photographs depicting the destroyed storage units and scattered piles of grain and sunflower seeds in Reni, situated on Ukraine's border with Moldova and Romania. Industry sources noted that the port remains operational.

Last month, Russia withdrew from an agreement that guaranteed safe passage for exports through the Black Sea, declaring that any ship heading to Ukrainian ports could be considered a military target.

Earlier this week, The Gaze reported that the Russian military ship fired warning shots at a Turkish cargo vessel en route to Ukraine.

The incident was termed "an unacceptable escalation" by the US State Department. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sharply condemned Russia's "provocative" military actions against the Sukru Okan cargo ship, bound for the port of Izmail, and urged the international community to take resolute countermeasures.

"It is imperative to thwart Russia's obstruction of international routes in the Black Sea, especially those leading to Ukrainian maritime ports," the statement read.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that the Black Sea Grain Initiative plays a crucial role in supporting global food security.