The Black Sea is crucial for shipment of grain, oil and oil products. Its waters are shared by Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia and Turkey, as well as Ukraine and Russia.
"Sea mines have been laid in port approaches and some port exits are blocked by sunken barges and cranes," said a spokesperson with U.N. shipping agency the International Maritime Organization, one of several bodies working on establishing sea passage for grain supplies.Global grain production is forecast to fall short of demand in the 2022/23 season, the International Grains Council says.
On Friday, the Ukrainian foreign ministry official said Ukraine had placed some mines."We have installed naval mines in the exercise of our right to self-defence as stipulated under the Article 51 of the U.N. Charter." Beaches in Odesa are closed with signs warning of mines. Some of the munitions have drifted as far as Turkey and Romania.
Intelligence on the types of mines laid and where they are located would be required at the outset, said Gerry Northwood, a former captain who commanded warships with Britain's Royal Navy.