Istanbul, 25 October 2022 - The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) authorized the dispatch from Odesa port of the tugboat SAPFIR and the Search and Rescue (SAR) boat SAR-02 to perform a preliminary inspection of a possible mine-like object in the Maritime Humanitarian Corridor. 

The object was reported earlier today by a vessel transiting the corridor. 

Both those vessels are registered in the Black Sea Grain Initiative for technical support. 

The vessels will move to the reported location in the north of the corridor tomorrow, 26 October, and submit a report to the JCC. Based on the report, subsequent authorizations of vessels and actions will be discussed. 

The JCC will provide further updates in due course.


Note to editors: The  was established under the  in Istanbul on 27 July 2022. It comprises senior representatives from the Russian Federation, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Nations and its role is to enable the safe transportation, by merchant ships, of grain and other foodstuffs and fertilizers from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to the rest of the world. More information about the Black Sea Grain Initiative can be found .