By NEW YORK, UNITED NATIONS. Nov 17 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) on Thursday said that it has taken note of the Istanbul grain deal’s extension by 120 days and continued operating in implementation of this accord.
"The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) takes note of the automatic extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative under the same provisions for another 120 days starting on November 19, as agreed by the parties to the Initiative," the JCC said in a statement.
Three vessels carrying a total of 98,840 tonnes of grain and other food on aggregate departed Ukrainian ports on Thursday, it said.
The Gokova-M, the vessel chartered by the UN World Food Program, is carrying 40,000 tonnes of wheat for Afghanistan and Yemen.
"The wheat will be milled into flour in Turkey and it will be shipped to Afghanistan (30,000 tonnes) and to Yemen (10,000 tonnes)," JCC said.
In addition, the Super Saka will deliver 54,000 tonnes of wheat to Saudi Arabia, and the bulk carrier Nizar will take 4,840 tonnes of soybeans to Turkey.
One bulk carrier that traveled along the maritime humanitarian corridor on November 17 is bound for Ukrainian ports.
As many as 69 bulk carriers are now waiting for permission to call at Ukrainian ports, while another 24 loaded ships are getting prepared for an inspection in Turkish territorial waters, it said.
"As of November 17, the total tonnage of grain and other foodstuffs exported from the three Ukrainian ports is 11,186,228 million metric tons. A total of 941 voyages (470 inbound and 471 outbound) have been enabled so far," the JCC said.
