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Bad weather in Black Sea slows first Ukrainian grain shipment

Published:Tuesday | August 2, 2022 | 6:26 AM
A journalist watches as the bulk carrier Razoni starts its way from the port in Odesa, Ukraine, Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Infrastructure, the ship under Sierra Leone's flag is carrying 26 thousand tonnes of Ukrainian corn to Lebanon. (AP Photo/Michael Shtekel)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The first cargo ship to leave Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbour more than five months ago has run into bad weather in the Black Sea and is set to arrive later than scheduled in Istanbul, a Turkish official said Tuesday.

The Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni, which set sail from the Ukrainian port of Odesa on Monday, is now expected to reach Istanbul early Wednesday, according to Rear Admiral Ozcan Altunbulak, a coordinator at the joint centre established to oversee the grain shipments.

Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and United Nations officials are to inspect the ship after it anchors in Istanbul.

The inspections are part of a UN- and Turkish-brokered deal to shift Ukrainian grain stockpiles to foreign markets and alleviate a mounting global food crisis.

Altunbulak said “preparations and planning” are continuing for other ships expected to leave Ukraine's ports, but he did not provide details.

As part of the July 22 agreement on shipments, which include Russian grain and fertiliser, safe corridors through the mined waters outside Ukraine's ports were established.

The situation in the Black Sea remains tense, however, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged international partners to keep a close eye on Moscow's compliance with the deal.

More ships are expected to leave from Ukraine's ports through the safe corridors. 

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