Countering the blockade of Black Sea ports: Ukraine has identified a corridor for navigation
Ukraine has identified a corridor for the safe entry of merchant vessels into its ports amid Russia’s attempt to blockade the Black and Azov Seas. This was reported by the State Hydrographic Service .
Ukraine , Ukraingate , 15 , February , 2022 | Ukraine News
Quote:
On behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, the State Hydrographic Service has completed unscheduled hydrographic work in Odessa Bay to determine a sea corridor for safe navigation in connection with the illegal closure of the sea area for combat exercises by the Russian Federation in Ukraine’s exclusive maritime economic zone. On February 14, 2022, 100% of hydrographic works were performed (450 linear kilometers of hydrographic survey), ”the statement of the State University reads.
Details
It is reported that according to the results of the work, the total background depth in this area is from 15 to 22.5 meters.
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the corridor determined by the study guarantees ships safe passage through the Gulf of Odessa.
“Over the past 24 hours, we have recorded uninterrupted traffic of merchant ships. Most of the ships followed the recommendations and used the sea corridor, bypassing the zone of illegal military exercises of the Russian Federation, ”said the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov, quoted by the press service.
On the eve of Kubrakov explained that the blockade of Black Sea ports as such by Russia is not currently in question. “Confirmation of this is the fact that just an hour ago from the grain terminal Neptune in the port of the South passed a new corridor bulk carrier MV Melia. It is currently the first Panamax-class vessel to successfully use this route, ”he wrote on Facebook on Monday night.
What was before
At the request of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine last week, the State Hydrographic Service began unscheduled depth measurements to clarify the nature and structure of the bottom relief in the North-Western part of the Black Sea.
On February 14, against the background of Russian maneuvers at sea near Ukraine, the Ministry of Infrastructure reported that Ukrainian ports were operating normally
Context
On February 10, Russian media reported that the Russian Black Sea Fleet had announced exercises in the Black Sea involving naval tactical groups of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, stating that they were planned. Russian minesweepers “Valentin Pikul” and “Vice Admiral Zakhar’in” trained for them in one of the Black Sea ranges. At the same time, Russian media reported that a detachment of six large landing ships of the Northern and Baltic Fleets of Russia arrived in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has protested against Russia’s decision to block part of the Black and Azov Seas and the Kerch Strait.
On February 11, it became known that the Russian Federation announced that it had canceled the blocking of the southern part of the Sea of Azov, which it planned to carry out for navigation from February 13 to 19 under naval exercises, the SBGS Marine Guard said.
On February 12, maneuvers involving more than 30 Russian warships began in the Black Sea.
Source: Ukrgate