KYIV, Feb 15 – The Panamax MV Melia class bulk carrier became the first ship to leave the Neptune grain terminal at the Pivdenny seaport (Odesa region) and successfully pass through the deep-water corridor designated by the Ministry of Infrastructure for the safe passage of ships during the closure of the Russian Federation territories in the exclusive maritime economic zone of Ukraine for combat exercises.

Co-owner and CEO of the TIS port Andriy Stavnitser wrote about this on Facebook on Monday evening.

"Right now, the bulk carrier MV Melia with deadweight of 76,230 tonnes and a draft of 12.85 meters passed the southern bypass route from the Neptune grain terminal. This is the first Panamax-class vessel that successfully passed through the additional corridor. Thanks to the efficiency and pressure of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov and Yuriy Vaskov [Minister and Deputy Minister of Infrastructure] found deep-sea routes and calmly did the work. This is a big victory," Stavnitser wrote.