Don't come within 10 miles!
According to the "grain agreement", from now on all ships carrying Ukrainian food will be protected by a 10-mile buffer zone (18 km 520 m).
"Parties will not engage in any attacks on merchant or other civilian vessels and port facilities participating in the 'grain' initiative," the document "Procedures for Merchant Ships" emphasizes.
According to the agreed procedures, information about the movement of ships is transferred to the parties that signed the agreement: Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN. According to the documents, no warship, aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles can come closer than 10 nautical miles to a merchant vessel passing through the Maritime Humanitarian Corridor, except in Ukraine's territorial seas.
As part of the "grain initiative", Ukrainian ports left already the second caravan with food. The other day another 70,000 tons left on 2 ships from the port of Chornomorsk to Turkey and South Korea. In turn, 2 ships went to Ukraine to pick up cargo. The authorities express cautious optimism and continue to work to ensure security guarantees.
"Currently, there is every chance to ensure the rhythm of such exports. However, the key thing is, as in previous days, the ability of partners to prevent any attempts by Russia to disrupt exports and exacerbate the world food crisis again," President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized in his video address.
The press secretary of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Stéphane Dujarric, said after the approval of the procedures that he very much hopes for an increase in the volume of transportation within the framework of this initiative.
It is not known how long Russia will be able to fulfill its commitments. After all, the agreement signed on July 22 on the unblocking of three Ukrainian ports was fired upon the very next day.
"The successful exit of multiple vessels was beyond most people's imagination just a few weeks ago and the fact that we have come this far is extraordinary," said Neil Roberts, head of maritime and air transport at Lloyd's Market Association, which represents all underwriting interests. companies on the Lloyd's of London insurance market. - "The actual achievement of the goals of the UN initiative will be a cause for thought for historians."