First vessel with Ukrainian grain to leave Odesa

The first vessel loaded with Ukrainian grain is to leave the Port of Odesa today, August 1.

"Today at 9.15 a.m. the first ship with Ukrainian agricultural products leaves the Port of Odesa as part of the "Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports," announced the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov.

The Sierra Leone-flagged ship RAZONI heads to the port of Tripoli in Lebanon loaded with 26,527 t of corn. There are 16 more vessels waiting for their turn to leave the ports of Big Odesa — Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdenny. Those vessels have been blocked in the ports since the start of russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

"We are receiving requests for the arrival of new ships to be loaded with agricultural commodities. In the coming weeks, with the support of our partners, we plan to reach the full capacity of agricultural products transshipment," commented Oleksandr Kubrakov.

According to CNN Türk, the first convoy of 16 ships with Ukrainian grain will soon leave Ukrainian ports and head for Africa. It is reported that the first route of the grain corridor has already been mapped out. Istanbul will be the first stop on the route.