Ukraine announced a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea yesterday to release merchant ships stuck in its ports since the outbreak of war a year and a half ago. The move is seen as a challenge to Russia’s naval blockade it has enacted in recent weeks since quitting a United Nations-brokered grain shipping pact.
Insurers were left reeling last year when Russia invaded Ukraine with a vast number of assets – including ships – left stranded and under fire. A huge operation to get stranded seafarers out of the country took place over the opening months of the war, a time where a number of merchant ships were hit in the crossfire.
There remain around 60 international ships marooned in war-torn Ukrainian waters.
The Ukrainian navy said the routes had already been proposed by Ukraine directly to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
“Vessels whose owners/captains officially confirm that they are ready to sail in the current conditions will be allowed to pass through the routes,” the statement said, adding that risks remained from mines and the military threat from Russia.
Immediately after Russia withdrew from the grain deal, it stated that all vessels calling Ukraine will be suspected of carrying weapon supplies to Ukraine.
Russia’s navy then conducted multiple strikes on Ukrainian grain facilities and ports including at the Danube River port of Izmail which was an alternative route for exporting grain via Romania.
