Minesweeper origin9/20/2023 ![]() The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) union, NATO's Shipping Centre, and the insurance industry's Joint War Committee confirmed the existence of a serious threat posed by drifting mines in the Black Sea, and the possible repercussions for the price of oil and grain worldwide, as trade is slowed. The Romanian and Bulgarian authorities asked seaside residents, fishermen, and transport ships to proceed with care and avoid any floating object. Some of those mines happened to drift away, pulled by sea currents. The problem is not new, as Russia’s efforts to blockade Ukraine’s ports involved the use of hundreds of sea mines. The Romanian navy also had to disarm mines that had drifted into national waters. Last month, the Turkish navy discovered and defused several sea mines near the Bosporus, a crucial trading channel connecting the Mediterranean with the Black Sea. They are increasingly worried that their commercial ships will become collateral damage in the conflict, as sea mines drift across the water. Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, and Turkey, aside from Ukraine and Russia, have access to the Black Sea and use it for international trade, shipping oil, and agricultural products. During the press conference that followed, minister Lorenzo Guerini announced that his country would send two minesweeper ships “to serve in the Black Sea in the near future together with the Romanian Navy.” The information comes as mines meant to blockade Ukrainian ports drifted as far south as the Bosporus, threatening trade.Įarly in May, the Romanian and Italian defense ministers met to discuss the consolidation of NATO’s eastern flank. Italy announced that it will be sending two naval minesweepers to detect and disarm floating mines in the Black Sea.
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