Container feeder service resumes between Ukraine and Romania

Following an interruption of more than two years since the invasion of Ukraine, container shipping has resumed between Ukraine and Romania. Ukraine has initiated a feeder service connecting the port of Chornomorsk to Constanta, Romania, marking a significant step for trade in the region.

The service started with the departure of  T Mare, a general cargo ship with a capacity of 370 containers, from the Greater Odesa area. This move aims to support various sectors, including agriculture, by facilitating the transportation of grain and importing essential equipment and machinery.

Government officials expressed optimism, emphasizing the readiness of all container ports and terminals to resume operations. The revival of this route is expected to boost trade volume by approximately 20%.

Supported by Western backing and insurance coverage, Ukraine aims to rebuild its shipping industry, with a focus on agricultural exports which have dominated trade through the Black Sea corridor. Since the opening of the corridor last summer, over 1,140 vessels have traversed the Black Sea, transporting millions of tons of goods.

The resumption of container services signals a positive trajectory for Ukraine’s trade prospects, with plans underway to potentially expand the feeder service with additional vessels in the future. This development not only renews economic activity but also reflects a broader shift in the geopolitical landscape of the Black Sea region.

🚢Ukraine has resumed container transportation through the #BlackSea, local outlet Dumska reported. A container ship has entered one of the ports of Greater #Odesa for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale war.

📷: Dumska pic.twitter.com/oJ3Qvrrhio

— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 5, 2024