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Shipping in the dark as Black Sea battle intensifies
来源：shippingazette 编辑：编辑部 发布：2023/08/17 15:18:23
FOLLOWING Ukraine's declaration of six Russian ports as war-risk areas and its subsequent attack on a Russian tanker, the situation in the Black Sea has deteriorated significantly, reports Singapore's Splash 247.
This has led to a growing trend among international shipowners to avoid the region altogether.
Despite the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Black Sea has maintained a somewhat distinct status due to its significance in the export of Russian oil and Ukrainian grain.
The dynamics were partly upheld by a United Nations-endorsed agreement that permitted Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea.
This arrangement, facilitated by the UN and Turkey in the previous July, remained effective for about a year until Russia withdrew from the pact, citing unmet demands.
This withdrawal acted as a catalyst, triggering a series of escalating events that now pose a substantial threat to maritime traffic in the Black Sea.
In response to Russia's departure from the grain agreement, it announced a policy of suspecting vessels calling on Ukraine of carrying weapons for the Ukrainian forces.
Subsequently, Russia's naval forces conducted multiple strikes on Ukrainian grain facilities and ports, including the Danube River port of Izmail, which was an alternate route for grain exports via Romania.
Maritime risk management company Ambrey analyst Tomas Alexa revealed that Russia had also resumed the deployment of sea mines within the Ukrainian exclusive economic zone.
In-kind, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced that any vessels bound for Russian ports or temporarily occupied Ukrainian ports within the Black Sea might be treated as carrying military cargo.
Additionally navigation in the northeastern Black Sea region and the Kerch-Yenikal strait was deemed hazardous and prohibited.
Despite the hostile rhetoric from both sides, it's unlikely that either country would consider most vessels as direct military targets.
This is because both nations heavily rely on their Black Sea exports, and neither would gain from imposing severe restrictions on shipping activities in the area.
However, Ukraine showcased its resolve by launching an attack on a Russian naval vessel at the strategic oil port of Novorossiysk.
This action briefly suspended all tanker loadings. Furthermore, Ukraine employed a drone to inflict damage upon the Russian product tanker Sig in the Kerch Strait over the weekend.
These actions have heightened concerns among marine insurers, exacerbating the already tense situation in the region.
"Whilst the attack on an MV was an escalation, the choice of the vessel showed that Ukrainians were very selective of their choice of target - a Russian-flagged, US-sanctioned vessel. Kyiv is aware of the Russian dependency on the Black Sea hydrocarbon export as almost a third of Russian hydrocarbon exports flow from the Black Sea port," said Mr Alexa.
This has led to a growing trend among international shipowners to avoid the region altogether.
Despite the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Black Sea has maintained a somewhat distinct status due to its significance in the export of Russian oil and Ukrainian grain.
The dynamics were partly upheld by a United Nations-endorsed agreement that permitted Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea.
This arrangement, facilitated by the UN and Turkey in the previous July, remained effective for about a year until Russia withdrew from the pact, citing unmet demands.
This withdrawal acted as a catalyst, triggering a series of escalating events that now pose a substantial threat to maritime traffic in the Black Sea.
In response to Russia's departure from the grain agreement, it announced a policy of suspecting vessels calling on Ukraine of carrying weapons for the Ukrainian forces.
Subsequently, Russia's naval forces conducted multiple strikes on Ukrainian grain facilities and ports, including the Danube River port of Izmail, which was an alternate route for grain exports via Romania.
Maritime risk management company Ambrey analyst Tomas Alexa revealed that Russia had also resumed the deployment of sea mines within the Ukrainian exclusive economic zone.
In-kind, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced that any vessels bound for Russian ports or temporarily occupied Ukrainian ports within the Black Sea might be treated as carrying military cargo.
Additionally navigation in the northeastern Black Sea region and the Kerch-Yenikal strait was deemed hazardous and prohibited.
Despite the hostile rhetoric from both sides, it's unlikely that either country would consider most vessels as direct military targets.
This is because both nations heavily rely on their Black Sea exports, and neither would gain from imposing severe restrictions on shipping activities in the area.
However, Ukraine showcased its resolve by launching an attack on a Russian naval vessel at the strategic oil port of Novorossiysk.
This action briefly suspended all tanker loadings. Furthermore, Ukraine employed a drone to inflict damage upon the Russian product tanker Sig in the Kerch Strait over the weekend.
These actions have heightened concerns among marine insurers, exacerbating the already tense situation in the region.
"Whilst the attack on an MV was an escalation, the choice of the vessel showed that Ukrainians were very selective of their choice of target - a Russian-flagged, US-sanctioned vessel. Kyiv is aware of the Russian dependency on the Black Sea hydrocarbon export as almost a third of Russian hydrocarbon exports flow from the Black Sea port," said Mr Alexa.