The sea mines floating between Ukraine’s grain stocks and the world

Published 2022년 6월 11일

Tridge summary

The article highlights the challenges posed by mines in the Black Sea, a crucial waterway for grain shipment, in the wake of the UN's efforts to negotiate the export of grain from Ukraine amidst concerns of a global food crisis. Both Ukraine and Russia have laid mines around key ports, with hundreds of ships, including some with grain cargoes, currently stuck. The process of clearing these mines is expected to take months, adding to the already tight grain supply situation for the 2022/23 season. The situation has led to elevated risks and costs for maritime activities, with two seafarer deaths and two merchant vessels sunk. The UN Secretary-General and senior officials from various countries have discussed the issue of safe passage for grain, emphasizing the necessity for mine clearance for establishing sea corridors.

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Original content

LONDON (June 10): As the United Nations tries to broker a path for grain from Ukraine and temper worries about a global food crisis, hundreds of mines laid along the Black Sea present a practical nightmare that will take months to resolve even after any agreement. The Black Sea is crucial for shipment of grain, oil and oil products. Its waters are shared by Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia and Turkey, as well as Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian government officials estimate 20 million tonnes of grain are unable to travel from what was the world's fourth largest exporter prior to the Russian invasion on Feb 24. Kyiv and Western leaders accuse Moscow of weaponising food supplies by blockading Ukrainian ports. Russia has said it wants Western sanctions lifted as part of any deal to allow exports to flow. But even if any agreement was reached and Ukraine’s ports were able to re-open, the danger from sea mines planted by Ukraine and Russia will hold up shipments potentially for months ahead, ...

Source: Theedgemarkets