First ship with Ukrainian grain bound for Lebanon being unloaded in Turkey's Mersin - media
LONDON. Aug 10 (Interfax) - MV Razoni, which was the first to leave a Ukrainian port consistent with the grain transportation initiative and destined to Tripoli, Lebanon, is being unloaded in Turkey, as the Lebanese customer refused to accept the cargo, the London based Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Aswat said, citing its sources.
"It is now unloading its cargo in Mersin," a source said.
The bulker had about 27,000 tonnes of corn onboard.
The MV Razoni, flying the flag of Sierra Leone, left the Odesa seaport through the grain corridor on August 1, arrived in Istanbul on August 2, and, according to sources, was due to reach Tripoli on August 7. Instead the ship headed to Mersin, as the Ukrainian embassy in Beirut said the Lebanese customer refused to accept the grain from the Razoni due to the shipment delay.
"According to the company shipping the Ukrainian grain on the MV Razoni, the buyer in Lebanon refused to accept the cargo as the shipment has been delayed [by more than five months]," the Ukrainian embassy to Lebanon said on a social network earlier.
Besides the Razoni, 11 bulkers have departed from Ukrainian ports through the grain corridor, including the MV Polarnet that arrived at its destination, the Derince port in the Izmit Bay, on August 8. The ship left Chornomorsk for Turkey on August 5 with about 12,000 tonnes of corn on board.
Back on August 5, two more ships sailed out of Ukrainian ports with corn on board. The MV Rojen departed from Chornomorsk and arrived in the Turkish port of Canakkale last Monday. It was destined for Teesport, the UK, but according to the web portal, it is on its way to Ravenna, a city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The Navi Star bulker left Odesa for Ringaskiddy, Ireland.
Four more ships with grain left Odesa and Chornomorsk on the morning of August 7. The MV Mustafa Necati, Star Helena and Glory left Chornomorsk through the grain corridor, while the MV Riva Wind departed from Odesa. According to the Marine Traffic website, the Riva Wind and the Glory are en route to the Greek port of Piraeus and a port on the Island of Chios. The Mustafa Necati and the Star Helena are currently staying in Istanbul.
The Arizona and Sacura bulkers flying the flag of Sierra Leone departed from Chornomorsk and Yuzhny on August 8. The Sacura is destined for Ravenna from Yuzhny with 11,000 tonnes of soybeans, while the Arizona, loaded with 50,000 tonnes of corn is traveling from Chornomorsk to Istanbul. According to the Marine Traffic web portal, it is currently anchored in Istanbul.
Two bulkers carrying 70,000 tonnes of grain left Chornomorsk on August 9. The MV Ocean Lion, flying the flag of Liberia, is carrying about 64,700 tonnes of corn through the grain corridor to South Korea. The other ship, the MV Rahmi Yagci is delivering 5,300 tonnes of sunflower meal to the Turkish port of Aliaga, according to the Marine Traffic web portal.
On July 22, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations signed two documents on creating a corridor for transporting grain from three Ukrainian ports: Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny (Pivdenny).