Ships are coming in and out of Ukrainian Black Sea ports in increasing numbers – the country’s new shipping corridor hugging its coastline and avoiding the Russian military proving effective.
In the middle of July Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a United Nations-brokered shipping pact, after which Kyiv has worked to establish an alternate route to manage its exports while also targeting Russian naval infrastructure to keep the new maritime corridor away from attack.
Over the weekend five more ships headed to Ukrainian Black Sea ports, while another three left the country laden with grain and iron ore.
Nevertheless, Russian drones continue to attack Ukrainian grain export infrastructure with a number of warehouses hit over the weekend.
With the southwest of the Black Sea increasingly congested, thanks to the port of Constanta becoming a hub for Ukrainian exports, the potential for shipping accidents is growing, made all the more likely by Russian meddling with GPS.
Romania’s chief of defence staff, General Daniel Petrescu, said last week that Russia is “actively and constantly” jamming the GPS communications of ships in Romanian territorial waters, which might cause ship collisions.
Ten days ago the Genco Columbia came into contact with another bulk carrier, R Skywalker, which was at anchorage outside the busy port of Constanta.
