First civilian vessels use the temporary corridor to reach Ukrainian ports

After using a temporary corridor to allow vessels blocked by Russian aggression to leave the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenne, the bulk carriers RESILIENT AFRICA and AROYAT have confirmed their readiness to use the route to the port of Chornomorsk to load nearly 20,000 tons of wheat for Africa and Asia.

The vessels are flying the flag of Palau and their crew consists of citizens of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Ukraine, Minister of Community Development, Territories, and Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov said on September 16 on social network X (formerly Twitter).

Afterwards, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the two ships had successfully passed through our temporary “grain corridor” and said that Ukraine was restoring true freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. He thanked port workers and everyone who ensures the safe operation of the corridor. At the same time, Zelenskyy called on allies to support Ukraine’s efforts by providing more air defense systems. “Together we can protect freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and beyond,” he added.

Earlier, the corridor established by the navigational order of the Ukrainian Navy was used to evacuate ships that were in the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdennyi at the time of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. Thus, since August 15, 5 vessels have used the temporary corridor: container ship JOSEPH SCHULTE, bulk carriers PRIMUS, ANNA-THERESA, OCEAN COURTESY and PUMA.

Tags: Ukraine, Black Sea grain corridor