Grain

Romanian Navy Needs Minehunters to Keep Black Sea Safe for Ships, Navy Chief Says

Lt. Remus Lepri (F-24) in port in Constanta, Romania on May 7, 2022. US Army Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Romania’s navy wants more minehunters in order to keep merchant ships safer in the Black Sea, its top Navy official said last week.

The mine threat in the Black Sea is affecting overall freedom of navigation in the region, Rear Adm. Mihai Panait, chief of Naval Forces of Romania, said at a discussion on the Black Sea hosted by Yorktown Institute and New Strategy Center.

Ukrainian forces mined the...

https://news.usni.org/2022/10/03/romanian-navy-needs-minehunters-to-keep-black-sea-safe-for-ships-navy-chief-says

STB seeks assurances on rails’ ability to handle US harvest season

The Surface Transportation Board is seeking details on how the Class I railroads expect to meet rail demand during the fall harvest season.

In a letter sent to all seven Class I railroads last week, the board asked the railroads to provide information on how the railroads expect to meet market demand for grain and grain products and plan to maintain network flows along key corridors.

The timing of the letter comes as the National Grain Car Council (NGCC), a group organized by STB and consisting...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stb-seeks-assurances-on-rails-ability-to-handle-us-harvest-season

First Grain Ship Leaves Ukraine Since Start of Russian Invasion

Wheat fields in midsummer in Ukraine, Oblast Lviv in 2012. Raimond Spekking Photo

The first grain ship left Ukraine Monday, departing through Odesa’s port, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

The ship was carrying approximately 26,000 metric tons of corn, according to Kirby. This is the first ship able to leave Ukraine under a deal between Ukraine and Russia, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations. In order for the ship to be able to leave Odesa’s port, the U.N....

https://news.usni.org/2022/08/01/first-grain-ship-leaves-ukraine-since-start-of-russian-invasion

Russian Building Pontoon Bridge in Kherson, Satellite Imagery Shows

UK Ministry of Defense Image

The Russian military is building a pontoon bridge in Kherson along the Dnipro River, according to satellite imagery.

Ukrainians have been hitting bridges, which might explain why the Russians are building the pontoon bridge, a senior military officials told reporters Friday.

“They’re probably quite honestly trying to figure out how to get across the river and go back to Crimea,” the senior military official said.

The pontoon bridge under construction is next to the site...

https://news.usni.org/2022/07/29/russian-building-pontoon-bridge-in-kherson-satellite-imagery-shows

Ukraine Faces Hurdles Before Grain Exports Can Start Under New Deal with Russia, Expert Says

Wheat fields in midsummer in Ukraine, Oblast Lviv in 2012. Raimond Spekking Photo

Ukraine still faces hurdles in grain exportation despite an agreement with Russia, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, to allow shipments of the food stuff to leave the country.

Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement on Friday that would allow merchant ships to take grain out of three Ukrainian ports, including Odesa. But 12 hours later Russia bombed a port in Odesa, although it did not hit the grain...

https://news.usni.org/2022/07/25/ukraine-faces-hurdles-before-grain-exports-can-start-under-new-deal-with-russia-expert-says

Victoria part-funds $250k grain supply chain study

Pictured: ears of grain. Photo credit: Robin M via Unsplash.

Victoria’s government has committed $125k to part-fund a study to identify changes to the production, and volume, of grain likely to be harvested over the next 25 years.

The study is also aimed at helping freight industry efficiencies and to improve the competitiveness of the grain industry.

The SouthWest Victoria Alliance will deliver the project, along with local government, industry and the Department of Transport.

Modelled on the...

https://www.shippingaustralia.com.au/victoria-part-funds-250k-grain-supply-chain-study/

Russian vessels allegedly ‘grain laundering’ near Ukraine

Russia may be smuggling stolen grain out of Ukraine through ship-to-ship transfers, according to Israeli artificial intelligence and data analytics company Windward.

Windward said in a report released Wednesday that its maritime AI technology identified a “worrisome new phenomenon: alleged Russian grain laundering.” 

The report contains information about five vessels that allegedly engaged in “dark activities” and ship-to-ship operations in the Kerch Strait in June “as part of what appears to be...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/russian-vessels-allegedly-grain-laundering-near-war-zone

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