“Temporary Corridors” in the Black Sea that allow civilian vessels to safely pass from the Bosphorus to the ports of Greater Odesa through the territorial waters of Ukraine’s partner countries have begun to operate. However, certain risks remain. This was stated by Mykola Gorbachev, President of the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA).
“I am sure that the “temporary corridors” can and will work, but there are other risks in this scheme. In particular, it takes at least two to three days to load a ship in the ports of Greater Odesa. If during this time the port infrastructure is again hit by enemy attacks, there is a risk of damage to ships and cargo. And although Ukraine has introduced a mechanism to compensate for losses, I am not sure that many shipowners are ready to follow the “temporary corridors,” Gorbachev said.
Mechanisms to protect ships
He believes that the international community should elaborate on mechanisms to protect ships in the “temporary corridors,” for example, to provide military escorts for civilian vessels. NATO ships will be able to respond to threats, including missile attacks on port infrastructure. And the combat duty of F-16 aircraft, which can instantly see and respond to missiles, will a priori solve the security issue in the Black Sea region.
“I am confident that the international community will find levers of influence on Russia, which will allow free navigation in the Black Sea, because it does not belong to Russia and their claims do not correlate with the position of Türkiye and other NATO countries in the region. Consultations and negotiations are also ongoing with China, the number one buyer of Ukrainian grain under the “grain deal,” Gorbachev added.
As a reminder, Ukraine is finalizing a scheme with global insurers to insure grain vessels traveling to and from Black Sea ports.