Waiting times for vessels in Ukrainian grain trades have increased considerably in Istanbul, the hub for mandatory inspections under an ongoing UN safe passage scheme. More than 120 incoming and outbound vessels have been clogged around the Sea of Marmara, the UN said in a statement earlier this month. Waiting times for outbound, laden vessels “unfortunately” increased to an average of nine days after arrival in Istanbul, the organization said. Shipping agents in Istanbul speaking to TradeWinds on Wednesday said the situation has deteriorated since. One vessel even had to wait for 22 days due to a lack of surveyors to carry out inspections. “Several clients are complaining,” said Nikos Marmatsouris of agents GAC Shipping.

Under the terms of the scheme, both inbound and outbound ships must be vetted by UN, Turkish, Russian, and Ukrainian officials who check documentation and make sure there are no weapons or unauthorized cargo and personnel on board. What adds to the delays is that even ships carrying grains within the Black Sea must call at Istanbul before reaching their final destinations — even if they don’t have to cross the Bosphorus at all.

The Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Centre (JCC), the UN body in charge of operating the inspection scheme, largely attributed the delays to the very success of the scheme. Following “the high and growing demand” displayed by the shipping community, the JCC said it carried out more than 500 ship inspections from 1 August, when the safe corridor got up and running. Analysts agree. “The backlog that has been created is a testament to the success of the trade deal, as more than 6.5 MMT of agricultural commodities has been added to the trade supply and the seaborne trade in the Black Sea ports has been kept alive,” Xclusiv Shipbrokers said in a note on 10 October.

A reason for that high demand is the above-average freight rates that vessels can expect to achieve in the Black Sea. According to market sources, a handysize involved in the Ukrainian grain trade earns about $22,000 per day — net, after insurance payments. That is about $3,000 to $4,000 more than average for such ships. This is seen as a considerable premium — especially for the kind of smaller and older cargo ships usually involved in the trade.

To cope with the increased workload, the JCC increased the average number of daily inspections between August and October from four to 11. The UN, however, has found it difficult to hire more surveyors to increase inspections even more. Shipowners themselves are also partly to blame, the JCC said. “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,” it said in its statement. The UN body urged masters and agents to follow 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,” the JCC said.