Ukraine’s recently established grain corridor is gaining momentum, as defiance against a Russian naval blockade sees more vessels making their way to the war-torn country. On Friday, three bulkers set course for Ukraine shortly after a cargo ship loaded at Chornomorsk and left the port.

These vessels, the Eneida, Ying Hao 01, and Azara, are already enroute in the Black Sea with destinations set for Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi.

“Three new cargo vessels are on the way to enter Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi ports for loading export products,” as it was reported by Ukrainian vice prime minister Oleksandr Kubrakov on September 22.

The bulk carriers Eneida, Ying Hao 01, and Azara are using temporary corridor established by the Ukrainian Navy in order to export 127 thousand tons of Ukrainian agricultural products and iron ore, for China, Egypt and Spain.

Kubrakov posted on social media platform X, a photograph showing a ship sailing. Shipping Telegraph could not immediately verify the date or location of the photo, or the name of the ship.

The first vessels which used the temporary corridor were the Aroyat (a handy bulker) and Resilient Africa (a General cargo vessel), which exported 20 thousand tons of wheat for Asia and Africa.

This marks the second wave of ships attempting to complete a round trip to Ukraine, following the arrival of the Resilient Africa and Aroyat in Chornomorsk.

According to officials, this is the first time that civilian ships have been able to safely reach a Ukrainian port since the collapse of the UN-backed trading agreement with Russia which allowed for grain exports from Ukraine.

Russia had declared all ships in these waters as potential military targets.

The successful round trip of these vessels is a significant boost for Ukraine’s efforts to establish its own maritime corridor without relying on Moscow’s consent.

Kyiv has already used this new corridor since August to release five vessels trapped in Ukraine when the war began, including one container ship and four bulkers, as shipping law firm Campbell Johnston Clark (CJC) said in its weekly newsletter:

“Under this new route, ships sail close to Romanian and Ukrainian shores, passing Chornomorsk to meet a Ukrainian pilot boat off Odesa,” law firm CJC wrote.

“The changing military dynamics in the Black Sea, with Ukraine hitting military installations and naval assets in Crimea, and regaining control of abandoned offshore gas and oil rigs, have also contributed to Ukraine’s push to expedite grain exports by sea,” CJC added.