The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has announced the opening of temporary maritime corridors for merchant ships sailing to/from Ukrainian ports, the CFTS portal reports.
"The new temporary routes for the passage of civilian vessels to/from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports were announced in accordance with the Ukrainian Navy’s navigation report No. 6 dated 8 August 2023," the general staff said in a statement.
However, according to the statement, the military threat from Russia and risks from mines remain along the entire lengths of all the routes.
Ukraine recently proposed these maritime routes in an official letter to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The Council of the International Maritime Organization has recognized Ukraine's right to the freedom of commercial shipping, which is guaranteed under international maritime law. The International Maritime Organization has called on Russia to comply with the relevant international conventions and stop threatening merchant shipping in the Black Sea.
"These routes will be used primarily to facilitate the departure of the civilian ships that have been in the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Pivdennyi since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022," the General Staff said.
Only vessels whose owners/captains officially confirm their willingness to sail under the current conditions will be allowed to use the routes.
