More ships load grain from Ukraine 

Three ships left the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk and Odesa with about 58,000 tonnes of corn on Friday under a safe passage deal.

The Turkish Defence Ministry tweeted that the Panama-flagged Navistar, carrying 33,000 tonnes of corn bound for Ireland, left from Odesa.

The Ministry said the Maltese-flagged Rojen, carrying 13,000 tonnes of corn, left Chornomorsk bound for Britain.

In addition, the Turkish-flagged ship Polarnet, carrying 12,000 tonnes of corn, departed Chornomorsk for the Turkish Black Sea port of Karasu.

The regional administration of Odesa said the Liberian-flagged Turkish bulk carrier Osprey S, is expected to arrive in Chornomorsk on Friday to load more grain

The July 22 deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey is a rare diplomatic breakthrough after the United Nations warned of outbreaks of famine due to grain shipments from Ukraine being halted.

“We expect that the security guarantees of our partners from the U.N. and Turkey will continue to work, and food exports from our ports will become stable and predictable for all market participants,” Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Facebook after the ships set off.

Kyiv has called for the deal to be extended to other goods such as metals.

Also Read: Turkey detains Russian-flagged grain ship from Ukraine

“This agreement is about logistics, about the movement of vessels through the Black Sea.

 “What’s the difference between grain and iron ore?” Ukrainian Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka told Financial Times.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine sparked the biggest conflict in Europe since World War Two and fuelled a global energy and food crisis.

Ukraine and Russia traditionally produce about one-third of global wheat and Russia is Europe’s main energy supplier.

The first grain ship left Odesa on Monday.

Zainab Sa’id