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Turkey has resumed the passage of merchant ships through the straits towards the Black Sea after several days of delays for voyages to Russian and Ukrainian ports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia would block grain corridors.

Routes have become longer, insurance has become more expensive, and political decisions have turned compliance into a full-fledged operational function – in 2025, these three factors had the strongest impact on freight rates, schedules, and tonnage availability.

USM continues the series of materials about what 2025 was like for global and Ukrainian shipping. This time, we recall the challenges that global carriers faced and what the shipping world will remember about the past year.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will emphasize the “strategic priority” of maintaining security in the Black Sea at a summit dedicated to Ukraine.

The liberation of the Kinburn Spit requires not only political decisions, but also long-term work on humanitarian demining of land and water areas that have suffered large-scale military and environmental destruction.

New restrictions on the passage of vessels carrying dangerous goods through the Sulina Canal will not lead to congestion, despite the fears of market participants.

The invaders continue to erect barriers near the Kerch Bridge, effectively narrowing the waterway and restricting shipping.

Special measures are planned on the approach channel to ensure shipping safety.

As of today, August 6, navigation through the Bystre Canal has officially resumed – vessels with a draft of up to 4.5 meters have been allowed to pass.

Now shipmasters will be informed of the ways of approaching the ports of Ukraine in the Mediterranean Sea.