A Sierra Leone-flagged cargo vessel loaded with crops is about to set sail for Lebanon, according to the Turkish military
A ship carrying Ukrainian grain will depart from the port city of Odessa on Monday morning for the first time in months, the Turkish Defense Ministry has said. The freighter will be the first of many set to sail under a deal negotiated last month with Russia.
The Turkish Defense Ministry identified the vessel as the Razoni, a dry cargo ship registered in Sierra Leone. Its ultimate destination is Lebanon, the Turkish military said.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said the ship was scheduled to depart at 8:30 am local time on Monday. Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Aleksandr Kurbakov reported a slightly different schedule, saying the ship would leave at 09:15. However, one hour after the Turkish deadline, the Razoni remained moored in Odessa, according to maritime trackers.
Kurbakov also offered more details about the cargo on board. The ship is carrying 26 tons of Ukrainian maize to Tripoli, Lebanon, he said on social media.
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There have been no sea cargo shipments out of Ukraine since the Russian attack in late February. Ukraine accused Russia of imposing a naval blockade in the Black Sea, thereby contributing to a surge in global food prices.
Moscow rejected the allegations, saying its navy was offering safe passage to traders on a daily basis, and arguing that Ukraine was preventing ships from leaving its ports and deploying sea mines along its shores, creating a threat to maritime traffic.
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https://ift.tt/xSiZsKF 01, 2022 at 12:04PM
from RT – Daily news