The first shipment of Ukrainian wheat grain for humanitarian operations run by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has left Ukraine’s Pivdennyi port in Yuzhny. The 23,000-dwt Brave Commander (built 1996) is heading for Djibouti where it will unload a 23,000 metric tonne cargo of wheat grain destined for Ethiopia. It is one of 12 vessels now approved to carry WFP humanitarian grain cargoes out of the ports of Odesa, Yuzhny and Chornomorsk in the coming weeks according to the UN.

It represents the first shipment in what is expected to reach more than 2 MMT a month of grain and other agricultural exports from Ukraine. So far 10 of the vessels are either undergoing or have passed inspection in Istanbul before they head to Ukraine to pick up cargoes, according to the UN website.

“Getting the Black Sea Ports open is the single most important thing we can do right now to help the world’s hungry,” said WFP executive director David Beasley. “It will take more than grain ships out of Ukraine to stop world hunger, but with Ukrainian grain back on global markets we have a chance to stop this global food crisis from spiraling even further.”

The WFP said that the Brave Commander voyage represents the start of the resumption of commercial and humanitarian maritime traffic out of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. It added that crucially it will also allow Ukraine to empty its grain storage silos ahead of the summer season harvest.

A total of 16 vessels have also been approved by the UN to depart Ukraine after being trapped at its ports since the conflict began in February.