Ukrainian Grain Association sees risks in functioning of Black Sea temporary routes

MOSCOW. Aug 22 (Interfax) - The temporary passages in the Black Sea that allow civilian vessels to reach the Greater Odessa ports from Bosporus have started to function, but certain risks persist, Ukrainian Grain Association President Nikolai Gorbachev said.

"The temporary corridors can and will work, but they involve risks. There is a risk that vessels and cargo could be damaged. And though Ukraine has introduced a losses compensation mechanism, I am not sure that a large number of ship owners will be ready to use these temporary corridors," Ukrainian media quoted Gorbachev as saying in a statement circulated by the association's press service.

The international community should work out more detailed mechanisms to ensure vessels' safety along these temporary routes, he said.

Ukraine continues consultations and talks with China, which is the largest buyer of Ukrainian grain under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Gorbachev said.

The Ukrainian Grain Association expects Ukraine to export around 48 million tonnes of grain this year. It is realistic to supply such amounts to foreign markets even without the full-fledged functioning of the grain corridor, it said.