(Istanbul) We can hardly count them, anchored as far as the eye can see off the coast of Istanbul. With the acceleration of Ukrainian grain exports, there is a traffic jam at the gates of the Bosphorus.
Posted yesterday at 10:53 p.m.
High on empty water, flush with the waves with full bellies, 150 cargo ships waited Tuesday at the exit and entry of the strait, nearly a dozen days for some, before passing the scrupulous inspection which validates their trip.
Signed on July 19 under the aegis of the United Nations and Turkey and operational since 1er August, the agreement with Kyiv and Moscow on Ukrainian grain exports has already enabled more than 630 trips in both directions.
In total, more than 6.9 million tonnes went to Europe, the Middle East and, to a lesser extent, to Africa, according to data from the Joint Coordination Center (JRC) in Istanbul, which authorizes and control routes.
Wheat and maize above all, to relieve world markets and respond to fears of a food crisis.
On board of North Vinda black and white bulk carrier under the flag of Barbados, the relief is perceptible when the team of inspectors arrives at the bottom of the rope ladder to access the bridge.
Marwan, one of the Syrian sailors, told AFP that they have been waiting here “for eleven days. It’s too much. »
Especially since, despite the view of the mosques of Sainte-Sophie and Sultanhamet, “the anchorage area is difficult. You have to constantly change places and restart the machines… Why are we waiting like that? he asks himself.
It was the JRC itself that sounded the alarm last weekend, seeing the deadlines stretch despite its efforts to double the number of inspection teams, “from two to four”.
While traffic with Ukrainian ports has picked up its stride, “last week the waiting time for outgoing cargo [d’Ukraine] reached nine days on average”, he warned in a press release referring to “the congestion of the Sea of Marmara”.
As the debate begins for the renewal of the agreement, on November 19, the Coordination Center asked the shipowners to respect the procedures to the letter and to prepare in advance “before declaring themselves ready”, insists he because, “on more than 50 occasions, the inspection could not be carried out on the first try”.
For their part, confides an observer on condition of anonymity, the shipping companies complain of delays which would cost them “5000 dollars per day, plus the loss of earnings”.
Each team has eight inspectors, two for each of the parties to the agreement: Russia, Ukraine, the UN and Turkey – the latter mainly responsible for logistics.
The review of North Vind169 m long and 27,250 tonnes of wheat, will last a good two hours.
fumigation, ventilation
While some of the visitors are already on board, the others notice that the doors of the holds are open, putting the inspectors at risk of infection. Hop, everyone goes back down, about ten minutes wasted.
Each cargo must indeed undergo a pesticide fumigation – aluminum phosphate – to protect the integrity of the cereals against various infestations, summarizes Udani Perera, inspector seconded to the UN by the Sri Lankan navy,
“Then the holds must be ventilated, but they should have been closed before our arrival for the health of the team,” she explains.
Once on board, the inspectors divide up the tasks: checking the logbooks, identity papers, route taken, fuel tanks and, of course, the condition of the grains.
Udani Perera goes through the crew’s documents and checks their quarters, “to make sure that no unauthorized person is on board”.
During this time, his Ukrainian colleagues are measuring the state of the fuel gauge and the Russians are descending along the corridors and carrying out tests in the holds.
“Your boat is one of the best”, slips to the captain one of them.
Green light for the trip to Tunis, final destination of the North Vind.
In the morning, the inspection of the huge Chola Treasurea 225 m long bulk carrier in the colors of Singapore which is waiting – empty – to make its way to Chronomorsk, near Odessa, took more than three hours.
“The duration depends on the size of the vessel and its state of readiness. This morning, some documents were missing,” breathes the young inspector.
Too much wasted time. The sun is setting and only two of the four planned boats could be inspected.