ICS has issued the following statement welcoming today’s signing of the grain deal in Istanbul.

Guy Platten, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping, commented:

“ICS fully supports the work being undertaken by the UN, the International Maritime Organisation, and others to restart the movement of grain ships from Ukraine and Russia. We stand ready to work with all parties to ensure this important initiative becomes a reality.

“This is a long-needed breakthrough for the millions of people who rely on the safe passage of grain to survive. But although this is an important step, lots of work remains to be done.

“Ensuring crew safety will be crucial if we are to get this agreement moving quickly. Questions remain over how ships will navigate heavily mined waters, and how we can effectively crew the ships in the region to meet the suggested deadline.”