The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) reports that some 120 vessels are due for inspection at the Sea of Marmara, as of last week.
Since the start of operations on 1 August until 6 October, the JCC has completed a total of 503 inspections. In August, the JCC conducted an average of 4 inspections per day, in September the average grew to 10, and in October so far to 11 inspections per day, an indication of the high and growing demand of the shipping industry to join the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
During this period, the JCC increased its inspection teams from two to four, and occasionally five. The last week, waiting times for outbound vessels have unfortunately increased to an average of nine days between arrival in Istanbul and inspection.
On more than 50 occasions, inspections could not be completed at the first attempt due to the lack of readiness of the vessel. This has been an additional contributing factor to the congestion at the Sea of Marmara.
The rate of inspections has put a significant demand on the available JCC inspection teams. While the JCC is discussing how to improve inspections process and capacity, it urges owners, masters and agents to ensure that the vessels follow the procedures.
Ships must be fully prepared and familiar with the requirements for inspection before they declare their readiness for inspection. This includes compliance with fumigation and ventilation procedures, availability of proper and adequate testing equipment, and up-to-date and accurate documentation.
Inspections are conducted jointly by Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian and UN inspectors daily, checking documentation and looking for any unauthorized cargo or crew.
The JCC hopes that this congestion will soon be eased with the cooperation of the shipping industry, and it is committed to take all measures within its capacity to continue enabling the smooth and safe movements of vessels in and out of the Ukrainian ports in accordance with the Initiative
JCC stated.
In the meantime, UN is working to expand and extend for a year the deal enabling Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports, which could expire in late November.
As UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated, UN is “trying to remove the uncertainty to ensure that people are publicly saying that ‘yes, this will be extended a further year,’ but we’re not there yet.”
The team is also working to facilitate Russian grain and fertilizer exports.
