Ship carrying grain from Ukraine hits mine in Black Sea

Reuters reported about it, referring to maritime specialists and a Ukrainian government source.

According to Reuters, four maritime and trade sources said the Liberia-flagged Georgia S bulk carrier laden with a wheat cargo was sailing from Pivdennyi when it was hit in the open sea.

A Ukrainian government source told Reuters on Friday that it was likely that a floating sea mine hit the vessel.

Greece-based Seagate Navigation, which was listed on its website as the vessel's manager, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to data from ship tracking and maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic, the vessel's last position on Friday was heading towards the Romanian port of Constanta.

Information on the grain corridor

On 17 July, Russia announced the termination of the grain deal. In response, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was necessary to continue using the grain corridor even despite Russia's withdrawal from the agreement. 

On August 4, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said that Ukraine would send ships with its own grain to wherever it deems necessary and would not ask anyone for permission.

On August 10, the Ukrainian Navyannounced a temporary humanitarian corridor for merchant ships sailing to and from Ukrainian ports.

On August 12, Ukraine opened the registration of merchant ships and their owners who are ready to use temporary routes to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.

On August 16, the first vessel left the port of Odesa after Russia announced that it would terminate the grain deal on July 16, 2023.

In September, Ukraine exported 3.6 million tons of agricultural products. At the same time, almost 700,000 tons of grain have been exported since the launch of the new grain corridor, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

On October 26, media reported that the grain corridor had allegedly been temporarily shut down, but the Ministry of Infrastructure denied the rumors, noting that Ukrainian ports continue to handle ships.

On November 14, Ukraine, together with a pool of British insurance companies, has created a special mechanism to make the grain corridor more accessible to exporters.