Passengers Remain on Board Sea Bridge Ferry in Sochi
The Sea Bridge ferry, traveling from the Turkish city of Trabzon to the Russian resort town of Sochi, was unable to disembark passengers for 11 hours due to a lack of authorization to enter Russian territory, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), cited by TASS.
The vessel departed Trabzon on Wednesday evening and arrived at the Sochi roadstead Thursday morning with about two dozen passengers on board.
"The first ferry from Turkey’s Trabzon, which was to restore the sea service after several years, could not let passengers disembark. The Russian side did not accept the Sea Bridge because it had no authorization to enter the Russian territory and furthermore, the port of Sochi was closed for exercises until noon."
Background of the Ferry Service
The ferry service between Sochi and Trabzon resumed after a 14-year hiatus. The last ferry on this route operated in 2011. Between 1993 and 2011, five passenger ferries served this line.
Future Plans for the Service
- The ferry is expected to carry passengers only after the service officially restarts.
- Motor vehicles will be gradually added to the service over time.
Author’s summary: The Sea Bridge ferry’s first voyage from Trabzon to Sochi was delayed due to permission issues, marking the troubled resumption of a route inactive since 2011.