First vessels to depart from Odessa after Black Sea Grain Initiative's end arrives in Turkey - press

MOSCOW. Aug 18 (Interfax) - The Joseph Schulte container ship sailing under the Hong Kong flag which departed from Ukraine's Odessa port has arrived in the Bosporus Strait, the Ukrainian press said with a reference to the Turkish hurriyet.com.tr media outlet.

"The Joseph Schulte vessel sailing the Hong Kong flag, which was loaded with containers and headed from the Odessa port of Ukraine, entered the Bosporus around 6 a.m. from the coast of the Black Sea escorted by coast guards and pilot ships," the media outlet said.

According to the Turkish press, the vessel would drop anchor at the Ambarli port.

Ukrainian media outlets also cited the aa.com.tr news agency, which reported that the Turkish Defense Ministry had monitored commercial vessels headed towards the Turkish straits and stated that there are no issues with their passage through the Turkish straits.

"Other countries are working on alternative routes and ways. We are thoroughly monitoring it. The problem is how commercial vessels can safely reach the Turkish straits in the current situation. There are no problems with the passage through the Turkish straits," the news agency quoted a source at the Turkish Defense Ministry as saying.

As reported with a reference to Ukrainian Minister for the Development of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Alexander Kubrakov, the first vessel using a provisional corridor in the Black Sea departed the Odessa port on August 16.

The Joseph Schulte container ship stayed at the Odesa port since February 23, 2022. The ship carries 2,000 containers and 30,000 tonnes of cargo, in particular, food.