First vessels carrying Ukrainian grain may arrive in Turkey on 3 August

SUNDAY, 31 JULY, 2022, 12:10

Soon, the first vessels transporting grain under the agreement brokered in Istanbul are set to depart Ukraine. The Turkish government expects the vessels in Turkish ports on 3 August.

Source: European Pravda, with reference to TGRT

Grain exports became possible after a meeting held in Istanbul during Wednesday’s opening ceremony of the Joint Coordination Centre, created as part of the implementation of the so-called "grain agreement".

According to the Turkish government, the first vessels transporting grain will leave the port of Odesa along with a convoy of 16 guard ships. Vessels without cargo or cargo other than grain will not leave the port. The convoy will be monitored using drones and satellites.

The first stop of ships from Ukrainian ports will be Istanbul. The first vessel is expected in Turkish territorial waters on 3 August. The ships will then go to Somalia – a voyage which can take up to a month and a half.

Ships will also be checked in the Port of Istanbul. Vessels that do not provide transparent information about port stops or turn off their tracking device will not be allowed to enter the territorial waters of Turkey.

As reported, last Friday in Istanbul, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the UN signed an initiative to facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain by the sea.

The very next day after the signing of the agreement, Russia violated its promise by firing at the Port of Odesa, which was condemned by the UN, EU and the United States; Ankara called on the parties to implement the agreements reached.