The recent movement of the first vessel through the Bosphorus after the grain agreement ended does not imply that Ankara has given approval for alternate routes. The Bosphorus continues to serve primarily as a conduit for commercial shipping, a fact confirmed by a diplomatic source in Ankara to RIA Novosti. This clarification underscores Turkey’s traditional role in managing straits used for global trade rather than opening new corridors on a political whim.
News emerged that, shortly after the termination of the grain deal, the Odessa port saw its first merchant ship depart and proceed into the Bosphorus. Turkish TV channel TV100 reported the development on Friday. Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov also provided an update, noting that the container vessel Joseph Schulte, loaded with more than 30,000 tons of cargo, had left the port of Odessa, where operations had been ongoing since February 23, 2022. Kubrakov highlighted that this departure marks the first ship to leave Odessa since July 16, signaling a potential reopening of maritime activity from the port, albeit within the broader geopolitical context.
In response to questions about whether Ankara had granted permission for alternative pathways to the grain corridor, the source reiterated a clear stance: the straits are designed for the passage of commercial ships and serve their intended purpose. The remark reflects Turkey’s emphasis on its role as an anchor point in regional maritime routes, rather than as a facilitator of uncharted corridors, particularly amid ongoing tensions and strategic recalibrations in the region.
The Joseph Schulte, registered under the Hong Kong flag, had departed Odessa on August 16, prior to the onset of exclusive operations, and was observed entering the Bosphorus in the early hours of August 18. This sequence of events illustrates how Odessa’s traffic is resuming in measured steps, with vessels tracing a cautious path back to regular routes while the broader grain framework remains unsettled. Observers note that the timing coincides with renewed interest in restoring supply lines and stabilizing cargo movements, even as the legal and logistical scaffolding around grain exports continues to be debated among international stakeholders.