“The last time we discussed plans through the Turkish consulate was two weeks ago, so far no details, no one has contacted me about it,” he said. he declares. – The issue will still have to be discussed in the coordination council with the participation of customs officers, border guards and other specialists, in principle, this process is short-lived.
The idea of restoring ferries from Sochi to Trabzon has existed for a long time. From 1992 to 2014, a ferry service was periodically established between the cities, which was discontinued in preparation for the 2014 Olympics due to safety requirements.
According to the experience of past years, it was not possible to establish ferry transport for a long time, said Natalya Akhtyrskaya, vice-president of the Sochi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
– So there was no economic component that would keep the project afloat, – she explained. – In all countries, the transport of small tonnage is subsidized. At the heart of any business is profitability. It’s great if this project will pay off.
Sochi has a historical connection with Trabzon. It has been the closest sister city to the station since 1991. The straight line distance across the Black Sea is 288 kilometers.
– The restoration of the ferry service is important for the city, – said the head of the company involved in the creation and development of marinas, Olga Shebzukhova. – Previously, ferries imported food and other goods from Turkey.
However, the south pier area then turned into a trading and transhipment base, where trucks stopped to take goods out of the city center. For the resort, it was very uncomfortable – near the seaside promenade, the central beach, crowds of vacationers. Fortunately, this district has once again become a seaside resort, where mainly cultural events sometimes take place.
As the Seaport of Sochi added, when launching the ferries, the Northern Mole berth will be used – this is the port where the cruise ship Astoria Grande docks, which sails from Sochi to Turkey from Last year.
