Black Sea Grain Initiative Joint Coordination Centre Operational Update (18 August)

18 August 2022, ISTANBUL – The outbound commercial vessel I MARIA departed today from Chornomorsk carrying 27,982 metric tons of corn through the maritime humanitarian corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The vessel is heading to Istanbul, Türkiye.

The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has authorized today the movement of three inbound vessels, pending inspection. The vessels are:

1) MV CANGA STAR to Chornomorsk2) MV PRETTY LADY to Chornomorsk

3) MV BELLIS to Odesa

The JCC concluded inspections today on six vessels, four inbound AVIVA, ASCANIOS, SEAEAGLE and ZHE HAI 505 and two outbound OSRPEY S and BONITA and they are all cleared to sail.

The joint inspection teams plan to conduct eight inspections tomorrow, 19 August, on three inbound and five outbound ships.

As of 18 August, the total tonnage of grain and foodstuffs exported from the three Ukrainian ports is 625,049 metric tons.

As per procedures agreed at the JCC, all participants coordinate with their respective military and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The JCC monitors closely the passage of commercial vessels through the maritime humanitarian corridor.

Note to editors: The Joint Coordination Centre was established under the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul on 27 July 2022. It comprises senior representatives from Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Nations and its role is to enable the safe transportation, by merchant ships, of grain and other foodstuffs and fertilizers from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to the rest of the world.