THE 373-TEU Panamanian-flagged T-Mare, carrying Maersk cargo, made its first voyage from Romania's Port of Constanta to Chornomorsk near Odessa, the first containership to do so in two years, reports the UK's Seatrade Maritime News.

The ship returned to Constanta on the same day and could mark a "safe corridor" for containers following Russia's decision not to renew the grain corridor agreement last summer.

Daniil Melnychenko, an analyst with Ukrainian consultancy Informall, said: "Up to now, container transportation has been carried out to a limited extent through Danube ports, but from today it will increase significantly."

Mr Melnychenko said all five Greater Odessa regional container terminals were ready to process boxes, but he said they will resume operations in stages.

"The traffic was supposed to start with the feeder ships, and container lines would follow them in the absence of incidents," he said, adding that there was a possibility that a second feeder could be added if the service proves successful.

The service was needed by those whose only outlet has been trucks across the country's western and southern borders or barge on the Danube, which is limited and slow.

Russia's military were opposed to the use of containers for the controlled corridors because they feared that arms and equipment for the war effort could be smuggled into the Ukraine.

Ukraine has successfully operated its safe corridor since the autumn of last year with bulk carriers utilising Odessa's ports comparatively safely.

Turkish liner operator Akkon Lines and Maersk are the only container lines to continue to handle containerised cargo on the Danube River using rail and barge operations, both are expected to be involved in the development of the feeder service.