UNITED NATIONS, August 5. /TASS/. The Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Center (JCC) has authorized the departure of three grain-loaded vessels from Ukrainian Black Sea ports of Odessa and Chernomorsk on August 5.

"The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has authorized the departure of three vessels from Ukraine, two from Chornomorsk and one from Odessa, carrying a total of 58,041 tons of corn through the maritime humanitarian corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative," JCC said in a statement.

The vessels are to depart early on Friday. The exact time of their departure is unknown. They will be inspected after entering Turkey’s territorial waters.

According to the statement, the authorized ships are: bulk carrier Polarnet (anchored in Chornomorsk port, with a cargo of 12,000 tonnes of corn destined to Karasu, Turkey), Navistar (anchored in Odesa port, with a cargo of 33,000 tonnes of corn with destination Ringaskiddy, Ireland) and Rojen (anchored in Chornomorsk port, with a cargo of 13,041 tonnes of corn destined to Teesport, UK).

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov said the three vessels, carrying over 50,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain in total, are to leave Ukrainian Black Sea ports between 5 and 8 a.m. on Friday.

A package of documents aimed at resolving the issue of food and fertilizer supplies to global markets was signed in Istanbul on July 22. Under a Russia-UN memorandum, the United Nations will engage in efforts to lift anti-Russian restrictions preventing the export of agricultural products and fertilizers. Another document creates a mechanism to export grain from Ukraine-controlled Black Sea ports. The deal inked between Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN provides for the establishment of a four-party coordination center whose representatives will inspect grain ships in order to prevent arms smuggling and false flag operations. The Joint Grain Export Coordination Center was launched in Istanbul on July 27.

The Sierra-Leone flagged ship Razoni was the first shipment of grain exports, leaving Ukraine’s Odessa port on Monday. On Thursday, it left the territorial waters of Turkey and is heading for Lebanon, its destination. The ship is carrying about 27,000 tonnes of corn.