INTERCARGO, which represents the world’s dry bulk carrier owners, expressed its concern at the cessation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

This humanitarian initiative has enabled the safe transit of ships exporting various agricultural products from three Ukrainian ports – Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhnyi. It has been instrumental in preventing a global food crisis and some 32.9 million metric tonnes have been exported through the corridors with a significant quantity supporting the World Food Programme. The scheme has also been paramount in protecting the lives of dry bulk carrier seafarers operating ships in the Black Sea area.

INTERCARGO stresses the importance of using all resources available to ensure safety of navigation for bulk carriers and their crews and supports all efforts by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and international initiatives to find a solution to protect the global supply chain and food security.