News / Stranded MSC box ship leaves port of Odessa after 18 months

Port of Odessa. © Ddcoral Dreamstime.com

Containerships trapped in the port of Odessa since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February may finally have a route out – but hopes of trade returning are slim.

On Wednesday, the Ukrainian authorities defied threats of Russian attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea, and allowed MSC’s 9,400 teu Hong Kong-flagged Joseph Schulte to depart, with a Ukrainian crew.

Last month, Russia stepped up its attacks on Ukraine’s shipping infrastructure with multiple drone strikes ...