On the morning of 18 September, the bulk carrier PUMA (Cayman Islands) left the Odesa seaport and is now heading to the Bosphorus via the established temporary corridor. The vessel is loaded with 16,000 tons of metal and 14,000 tons of rapeseed. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine.

The bulk carrier reportedly entered the Odesa seaport on February 19, 2022, and could not leave the port due to the start of hostilities and the closure of the relevant areas of the Black Sea.

The ministry noted that the corridor defined by the Navy's navigation order is primarily used to evacuate ships that were in the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdennyi at the time of the full-scale invasion.

However, given Russia's blocking of the grain initiative and the world's growing demand for Ukrainian products, Ukraine is considering using it for civilian ships carrying non-military cargo, including grain, mainly to Africa and Asia.

According to the department, four ships have already used the temporary corridor since August 15. The container ship JOSEPH SCHULTE, bulk carriers PRIMUS and ANNA-THERESA with OCEAN COURTESY have already sailed through this route on August 16, 27 and September 1, respectively.