According to informed sources, the cargo ship "Razoni," flying the flag of Sierra Leone, which was expected to arrive at the Port of Tripoli last Sunday, did not enter Lebanese territorial waters and headed to Turkey, where it docked at the port of Mersin to unload its cargo there. The "Razoni" was the first ship to leave the Ukrainian port of Odessa on Monday, August 1, carrying 26,000 tons of corn. There was much speculation about its destination, with claims it was intended for a Lebanese buyer. The Ukrainian ambassador in Lebanon called for a reception upon its arrival, to be celebrated by the Ukrainian community, but the ship ultimately went to Turkey.
The informed source stated that what happened with the "Razoni" is a conventional occurrence that happens at sea. The ship, loaded with goods, sails under a bill of lading, which in this case was for a Lebanese trader. However, during the voyage, the seller finds a buyer willing to pay a higher price or presents more favorable conditions, or the buyer decides against taking delivery of the goods. It seems the Lebanese buyer was concerned about storing the corn on the ship for five months due to the ongoing fighting in Ukraine, which delayed the shipment. Consequently, he withdrew from the purchase. Those knowledgeable about maritime trade consider such occurrences to be common, as buyers can change at any moment and the ship alters its course.
Last month, Russia and Ukraine signed two separate agreements, under the auspices of Turkey and the United Nations, allowing for the export of Ukrainian grains despite the war, and the export of Russian agricultural products despite Western sanctions, to avert potential famine or severe shortages in grains that might raise global prices to alarming levels. According to the authorities in Ukraine, under these agreements, eight vessels have left Ukrainian ports, with an expectation of three to five ships arriving daily over the next two weeks. The "Razoni" ship received notable attention from various parties concerned with the resumption of grain shipping from the two major global suppliers, Russia and Ukraine, as it was the first ship to set sail, and there was a desire to celebrate its arrival.
