A BULKER departing the Port of Pivdennyi, near Odesa, was said to be slightly damaged by a floating mine, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
Although the vessel, the 75,000-dwt Georgia S, registered in Liberia and chartered to Cargill, sustained light damage, it is proceeding under its own power.
This incident coincided with efforts to launch a new war risk insurance programme to encourage more ships to undertake grain exports from Ukraine.
Russia has also begun its grain exports, with two vessels carrying 25,000 tons each heading to Somalia and Burkina Faso.
Unnamed Ukrainian officials and security consultants reported the incident, highlighting that the vessel was loaded with wheat.
The vessel's last AIS signal on November 17 showed it off the Romanian coast, with conflicting reports about its destination.
While some suggested an inspection in Constanta, Romania, others indicated a course toward the Bosporus, due November 18.
The vessel had adhered to limiting AIS signals in Ukrainian waters.
Deputy Minister Yuriy Vaskov emphasised the increasing traffic on Ukraine's Black Sea shipping corridor, with over 150 ships transiting since August, exporting 3.2 million tons of grain and an additional 1.2 million tons of other materials.
Currently, 30 ships are loading in Black Sea ports, with 22 carrying over 700,000 tons of grain and eight loading other cargo.
Insurance broker Marsh launched a new facility to support grain exports, providing affordable insurance backed by Lloyd's of London insurers.
This initiative, developed in coordination with Ukrainian financial institutions and banks, offers up to US$50 million in hull and separate protection & indemnity war risk insurance.
The goal is to address concerns arising from a prior incident where a bulker in Ukraine was struck by a likely errant Russian missile, leading to a triple increase in risk insurance costs.
The response of markets to the recent explosion incident remains uncertain.
SeaNews Turkey
Although the vessel, the 75,000-dwt Georgia S, registered in Liberia and chartered to Cargill, sustained light damage, it is proceeding under its own power.
This incident coincided with efforts to launch a new war risk insurance programme to encourage more ships to undertake grain exports from Ukraine.
Russia has also begun its grain exports, with two vessels carrying 25,000 tons each heading to Somalia and Burkina Faso.
Unnamed Ukrainian officials and security consultants reported the incident, highlighting that the vessel was loaded with wheat.
The vessel's last AIS signal on November 17 showed it off the Romanian coast, with conflicting reports about its destination.
While some suggested an inspection in Constanta, Romania, others indicated a course toward the Bosporus, due November 18.
The vessel had adhered to limiting AIS signals in Ukrainian waters.
Deputy Minister Yuriy Vaskov emphasised the increasing traffic on Ukraine's Black Sea shipping corridor, with over 150 ships transiting since August, exporting 3.2 million tons of grain and an additional 1.2 million tons of other materials.
Currently, 30 ships are loading in Black Sea ports, with 22 carrying over 700,000 tons of grain and eight loading other cargo.
Insurance broker Marsh launched a new facility to support grain exports, providing affordable insurance backed by Lloyd's of London insurers.
This initiative, developed in coordination with Ukrainian financial institutions and banks, offers up to US$50 million in hull and separate protection & indemnity war risk insurance.
The goal is to address concerns arising from a prior incident where a bulker in Ukraine was struck by a likely errant Russian missile, leading to a triple increase in risk insurance costs.
The response of markets to the recent explosion incident remains uncertain.
SeaNews Turkey
