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Ukraine has been able to reopen a grain supply-line by using ports on the Danube river in its far west.

While ports in the Black Sea have been closed, it is understood that Ukraine has been able to dredge a channel to get vessels to the ports of Izmail, Reni and Kiliia.

Figures from Lloyd’s List Intelligence show that the number of ships using the ports has increased significantly in the last few weeks, compared to the same time the year before.

Lloyd’s, a British maritime insurance house, says the three ports logged a combined total of 279 outbound sailings of commercial vessels in June this year, up from 23 last year.

It is believed that some of the vessels are capable of carrying some of the 20 million tonnes of wheat that is in storage in Odesa, which is one of the Black Sea ports that has been unable to operate due to the war.

In March, Ukraine exported 400,000 tons via the three ports, and now it is exporting about 1.5m tons per month, Lloyd’s cited Odessa-based Lloyd’s Agent Eurogal as saying.

It comes as Russian and Ukrainian military officials are meeting to discuss reopening Odesa to shipping. 

Shipping tracker websites, such as Marine Traffic, show increasing numbers of ships using the route, described as being the Bystroe (also translated as Bystry, Bystre or Bystroye) Canal.

The Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine said the route had become safe after Ukraine was able to force Russia to retreat from Snake Island, after constant attacks on its forces there.

“Given the liberation of Zmiinyi Island from Russian troops and the build-up of a large number of ships waiting to proceed through the Sulina Canal, it is possible to use the channel of the Bystry estuary of the Danube-Black Sea waterway for the entry/exit of ships transporting agricultural produce,” Maritime Executive cited the administration as announcing Saturday. 

It was a development picked up on by UN aid chief Martin Griffiths who tweeted three days ago that he was “encouraged” to see shipment of grain going through the canal.

There are believed to be dozens of ships waiting to enter the canal.

Military analyst Professor Michael Clarke told Sky News: “Yesterday, eight grain carriers turned up at Izmail. There is some danger of drifting mines coming down, but not too great. 

“The Ukrainians have opened the channel and now Izmail, the port that can serve the whole of the Danube, which goes right up into northwest Europe.

“So you can get some of the grain in smaller ships, maybe 10,000 tonnes, up to their European customers.

“It’s a very interesting development. It won’t solve the problem (of worldwide grain supply issues), but it dares the Russians to interfere.”