The first shipment of Ukrainian grain for humanitarian operations run by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has left Pivdennyi port in Yuzhny.
The 23,700-dwt Brave Commander (built 1996) is heading for Djibouti, where it will unload a 23,000-tonne cargo of wheat destined for Ethiopia.
It is one of 12 vessels approved to carry WFP humanitarian grain cargoes out of the ports of Odesa, Yuzhny and Chernomorsk in the coming weeks, according to the UN.
It is the first in a series of shipments that are expected to reach more than 2m tonnes per month of grain and other agricultural exports from Ukraine.
So far, 10 of the vessels are undergoing or have passed inspection in Istanbul before they head to Ukraine to pick up cargoes, according to the UN.
“Getting the Black Sea ports open is the single most important thing we can do right now to help the world’s hungry,” said WFP executive director David Beasley.
“It will take more than grain ships out of Ukraine to stop world hunger, but with Ukrainian grain back on global markets, we have a chance to stop this global food crisis from spiralling even further.”
The WFP said the Brave Commander voyage represents the resumption of commercial and humanitarian maritime traffic out of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
It added that, crucially, it will also allow Ukraine to empty its grain storage silos ahead of the summer harvest.
Sixteen vessels have also been approved by the UN to depart Ukraine after being trapped at its ports since the war began in February.
