After 18 months in the port of Odessa
Freighter ignores Russian threats
08/16/2023 11:04 am
In early August, Ukraine announced the establishment of a “humanitarian corridor” through which ships can leave the country. However, Moscow had declared these to be possible targets. Despite this threat, a freighter is now leaving Odessa.
According to a Ukrainian MP, a freighter managed by the German company Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement left the port of Odessa despite Russian threats. “A container ship has just left the port of Odessa,” MP Oleksiy Honcharenko said on Telegram. The “Joseph Schulte” had been in the port since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022. “The ship is 300 meters long, 48 meters wide and has a displacement of 110,000 tons.” According to the Marine Traffic portal, the port of Ambarli in Istanbul, Turkey, is the destination.
Last week Ukraine announced the establishment of a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea. Cargo ships that have been stuck in ports since the beginning of the war should be able to leave the country through this passage. According to the Ukrainian government, grain is also to be transported via the corridor. However, Russia has declared ships en route to and from Ukrainian ports as possible targets. In addition, the Russian military is increasingly attacking Ukrainian ports and grain silos.
Last month, the Russian government refused to extend the grain deal with Ukraine. It provided for the transport of grain across the Black Sea to buyers worldwide. A corridor was set up for this purpose, in which Russia did not attack any ships. The Russian fleet dominates the Black Sea. Exports play an important role in global grain prices. Poor countries in particular are dependent on cheap imported wheat.