First shipment of Ukraine grain leaves Odessa under Türkiye-brokered deal

Addis Ababa, August 1, 2022 (FBC) – As part of a recent deal brokered by Türkiye, the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain has departed from the port of Odessa to Lebanon.

Loaded with corn, the Sierra Leone-flagged dry cargo ship Razoni left Odessa on Monday morning, as agreed by the sides of the accord, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.

“The ship Razoni has left the port of Odessa bound for Tripoli in Lebanon. It is expected in Istanbul on August 2. It will then continue its journey after it has been inspected in Istanbul,” the ministry said.

The Razoni, built in 1996 and measuring 186 metres in length and 25 metres in width, is carrying 26,527 tonnes of corn.

The grain-loaded ship will be in Istanbul at 12:00 GMT on Tuesday, Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said at Anadolu Agency’s Editors’ Desk in the capital Ankara on Monday.

“The ship will be anchored off the coast of Istanbul around 1500 (local time) for a joint inspection,” Akar said. “The next ships will continue likewise without any disruptions.”

He said that the efforts on grain shipments from Ukraine will continue, adding that this matter is a “humanitarian issue.”

On grains and chemicals awaiting shipment out of Russian ports, Akar said Türkiye would “be glad” to contribute on that issue as well.