According to information published by NTV on January 25, 2023, the Turkish-flagged cargo ship Tuzla was hit by a missile at the Kherson Port, Ukraine. It is possible that it was the Russian forces.
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Turkish cargo ship Tuzla on fire in the port of Kherson, Ukraine. (Picture source: A_Shtirlitz)
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February led to a complete halt of maritime grain shipments from Ukraine, previously a major exporter via the Black Sea. This resulted in a rise in world food prices and the threat of famine in lower-income countries.
To address the issue, discussions began in April, hosted by Turkey (which controls the maritime routes from the Black Sea) and supported by the UN. The resulting agreement was signed in Istanbul on 22 July 2022, valid for a period of 120 days.
The July agreement created procedures to safely export grain from certain ports to attempt to address the 2022 food crisis. A joint coordination and inspection center was set up in Turkey, with the UN serving as secretariat.
By late December, nearly 600 voyages had successfully left Ukrainian ports carrying over 15 million tonnes of grain and other food products. The Turkish cargo ship Tuzla was one of the ships involved in the operation.
About Tuzla
Tuzla is a general cargo ship that was built in 1980 and is registered and sailing under the flag of Cook Islands. Her gross tonnage is 2485 and deadweight is 3943.
The ship has a length overall (LOA) of 86.2 meters, a beam of 14.03 meters, and a container capacity of 153 TEU. Tuzla is operated by Cayeli Shipping LTD.
General cargo ships like Tuzla are designed to carry a wide variety of goods, including manufactured products, raw materials, and agricultural products. They are equipped with cargo holds, cranes, and other equipment to load and unload cargo.
