The first vessel with Ukrainian grain passed inspection in Turkey and is on its way to Lebanon

The Joint Coordination Center inspected the first cargo ship with Ukrainian grain. The vessel is now heading to the port of Tripoli in Lebanon, reports Ukraine's Ministry of Infrastructure.

The Joint Coordination Centre was established under the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul on July 27, 2022. The Center includes representatives of Turkey, Ukraine, the UN, and Russia. Representatives of all parties have undertaken to check cargo and personnel which are heading to or leaving Ukrainian ports on the territory of Turkey.

The inspection teams checked whether there was any prohibited cargo on the vessel and allowed it to continue its way to Lebanon.

The first vessel with Ukrainian grain left Odesa port on August 1. On the evening of August 2, the ship arrived in Turkey.

Now, 17 vessels loaded with agricultural products are waiting in Ukrainian ports for permission to depart. The Ministry of Infrastructure also accepts applications for the entry of new vessels to Ukrainian ports to transport agricultural products.

Grain Agreement

On July 22, Ukraine signed an agreement on the safe export of grain through the Black Sea with Turkey and the UN. Adviser to the Head of the President's Office Mykhailo Podolyak emphasized that Ukraine does not sign any documents with Russia, so the Russian Federation signed a mirror agreement with Turkey and the UN.

Ukraine was preparing to resume exports by sea, despite the missile attack on the Odesa sea trade port the next day after Istanbul agreed on the resumption of grain exports from Ukrainian ports.

On July 29, President Zelensky, the Minister of Infrastructure, the ambassadors of Turkey, the EU, and G7 countries arrived in Odesa port. At that time, it was reported that 17 ships were already loaded with grain in the sea ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk, 10 of them were ready to start shipment.