THE export of grain from Ukraine is picking up pace, with six more vessels earmarked for departure.

At least 10 vessels carrying a total of 305,111 tonnes of agricultural products from corn to soya and sunflower oil have left, or are about to leave, ports in the war-torn country since the inception of the Joint Co-ordination Centre in late July.

The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye, and involving Ukraine and Russia, is designed to allow safe passage of ships through a humanitarian maritime corridor.

Dubbed the Black Sea Grain Initiative, it aims to avert a food crisis after more than 20m tonnes of grain have been stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian incursion in late February, leading to food inflation. 

Since August 5, six more vessels, carrying 220,543 tonnes, have been authorised to sail, while one more ship has been cleared to move into Ukraine, according to the Istanbul-based JCC.

The first shipment from Yuzhnyi port, destined for Ravenna in Italy, was due to leave on set to leave on August 8 on the Liberia-flagged general cargoship Sacura (IMO: 9497000) carrying 11,000 tonnes of soya.

The Panama-flagged cargo ship Arizona (IMO: 8103767) is set to depart from Chornomorsk carrying 48,459 tonnes of corn bound for Iskenderun in Türkiye.

“Timings may be affected based on readiness, weather conditions or other unexpected circumstances,” the JCC said in its latest update, adding that inspections are expected to be carried out in Turkish territorial waters as part of the deal.

Over the weekend, four vessels were authorised to sail from Chornomorsk and Odesa carrying 161,084 tonnes of food items in total.

The vessels are Glory (IMO: 9288473) with a cargo of 66,084 tonnes of corn bound for Istanbul; Star Helena (IMO: 9361213) with a cargo of 45,000 tonnes of meal for Nantong/Machong, China; Riva Wind (IMO: 9301196) with a cargo of 44,000 tonnes of corn destined for Iskenderun; and the Liberia-flagged chemical tanker Mustafa Necati (IMO: 9736690) which is carrying 6,000 tonnes of sunflower oil for Monopoli, Italy.

Three other vessels were cleared to leave Ukraine on August 5, with the ships now sailing following inspections.

They are Polarnet (IMO: 9758961), Rojen (IMO: 9754927), and Navi Star (IMO: 9590979), while the inbound ship Osprey S (IMO: 9300843) has also been cleared to sail following inspection, the JCC said. 

The first vessel under the agreement — Razoni (IMO: 9086526) — was destined for arrival in Lebanon on August 7 after leaving Odesa on August 1, but looks like it has changed course.

The destination has now changed to Iskenderun having shown another Turkish port, Mersin, earlier today and the vessel is stopped between the two ports, with arrival expected on August 9, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. On August 7, the destination had changed to “on order” suggesting the Lebanese buyer has pulled out.

Meanwhile, the JCC said it is “near finalisation” of the shipping procedures to regularise operations to support the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which it expects to publish this week.