The Trabzon – Sochi ferry resumes

According to the latest information on February 22, 2024, Yuri Vladimirov, head of the Sochi commercial Seaport, told RIA Novosti about the company’s plans to buy a cargo and passenger ferry to stimulate tourism and start transportation from Sochi to Trabzon, Turkey. According to him, the search for a suitable vessel has already begun. Vladimirov also noted that the port of Sochi has already prepared the necessary infrastructure for servicing the future ferry. Despite this, it has not yet been possible to establish regular communication between the two countries. A search is underway for a vessel that could carry out such transportation.

“The possibility of buying a ferry for the Sochi-Trabzon route is being considered, given the obvious need for this type of transport. The ferry, designed to transport tourists in their personal cars, will be in demand, but its capacity is limited: a maximum of 300 people and 60-80 cars. Unfortunately, at the moment there is no suitable vessel on the market,” Vladimirov stressed.

Earlier, the Turkish side promised the first flight of the Sochi — Trabzon ferry, at the end of June 2023. However, many people already had doubts about this news. After all, negotiations on the purchase of the vessel had just begun.

The launch date of the ferry between Trabzon and Sochi in 2023 was postponed due to insurance problems, it was planned to start flights at the end of May, Fatosh Sholt, head of the Turkish travel agency operator Sholt Tour, reported in early May 2023.

“We are working to find solutions, despite the problem, we plan to launch ferries after the elections in Turkey,” said Scholt.

At the same time, the general director of the Sochi Seaport, Yuri Vladimirov, informed ATOR that no one had contacted them, had not designated or agreed on specific deadlines.

“So far, this is only an initiative. As soon as the operator or the owner of the vessel comes to us and informs us that there is a ferry that is going to be put on the line, we will be happy to start work,” explained the head of the seaport.

Earlier, the general director of the Sochi Commercial Sea Port, Yuri Vladimirov, commented that the launch of the ferry between Russia and Turkey was planned for May 1, 2023 and is under negotiation. Fatosh Sholt, the head of the Turkish tour operator Sholt Tour, also said in an interview with RIA Novosti that flights will be launched on May 10-11, and the ferry will run between the ports twice a week.

At the same time, in early 2023, according to the Yeni Safak newspaper, it was announced that ferry flights between Turkey and Russia would resume for the first time in nine years. Ferries were expected to run between the ports of Trabzon in Turkey and Sochi in Russia.

We plan to sign agreements on the resumption of ferry services on April 6, 2023. A ferry designed for 300 passengers, 200 cars, six buses and 12 containers will be used for the Sochi – Trabzon line. Flights will begin on May 1, and the gates to Russia will be opened, said the head of the Chamber of Commerce of the province of Trabzon, Celebi.

According to the publication, the first ferry flight between Trabzon and Sochi is scheduled for early May 2023, but unfortunately at the moment an agreement between the interested parties has not yet been signed. The idea of restoring ferries from Sochi to Trabzon has been around for a long time. From 1992 to 2014, ferry service was periodically established between the cities, which was interrupted in preparation for the 2014 Olympics due to safety requirements.

It is expected that this initiative will play an important role in the development of trade and tourism between the two countries. In addition, the resumption of ferry services can provide a more convenient and faster transport connection between Trabzon and Sochi, which contributes to the development of the exchange of goods and services.

The last ferry service between these ports was completed in 2014. The restoration of ferry service between the two countries can be an important signal for the restoration of friendly relations between Turkey and Russia.

The ferry route between Sochi and Trabzon was popular among travelers carrying bulky luggage or who were going to continue their journey in their own car through Turkey. Due to its size, the ferry could take on board not only passengers, but also cars. Every week on Monday evening, a ferry departed from the Sochi Marine Station, which arrived in Trabzon in the morning. In turn, the ferry left Trabzon on Friday. The duration of the trip was about 12 hours.

The schedule of the Trabzon – Sochi ferry can be tracked on the Port of Trabzon website.

The information was updated on March 4, 2024.