First commercial vessel leaves Odessa to pass via provisional safety corridor - Ukrainian Minister Kubrakov

MOSCOW. Aug 16 (Interfax) - The Joseph Schulte container ship sailing under the Hong Kong flag has departed the Odessa port and is moving along a provisional corridor set up by Ukraine for commercial ships heading to and from its Black Sea ports, Ukrainian Minister for the Development of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Alexander Kubrakov said.

"The first vessel left Odessa port since July 16 end of the Black Sea Grain Initiative," Ukrainian media quoted Kubrakov as saying on his social media account.

The transport corridor will be used primarily for evacuating ships staying in Ukraine's Chernomorsk, Odessa, and Yuzhny ports since the start of the crisis.

Provisional routes for commercial ships heading to or from Ukraine's Black Sea Ports have been functioning since August 8.