Regular cruise service will link Crimea with Sochi, Novorossiysk and Istanbul in 2017 – Victor Olersky
In pursuance of RF President’s instructions to organize regular passenger service to the ports of Crimea a new cruise line Sochi-Novorossiysk-Yalta-Sevastopol-Istanbul-Sochi is to be launched in 2017, IAA PortNews correspondent cites Victor Olersky, Deputy Transport Minister of Russia – Head of the Federal Marine and River Transport Agency (Rosmorrechflot), as saying yesterday, 21 December 2016, at the meeting of TF Government’s Marine Board.
“The organizers of regular sea traffic between Sochi and Crimea should not only offer yet another way of delivering guests to Crimean resorts but also ensure various options. In our opinion – and this is not just federal body’s opinion – inclusion of Istanbul will contribute to the service attractiveness,” said Victor Olersky.
With Istanbul it will be a seven-day tour.
RF Transport Ministry and Turkish authorities had been negotiating a possibility of including Istanbul for several months.
At first, Victor Olersky says, the Turkish side was against participation in the project because of a port of call in Crimea.
“However, during the last visit of Binali Yıldırım, Prime Minister of Turkey, this was approved and put on record”, said Victor Olersky.
Efficient period of the line operation is about 160 days: from late April till early October. Either Sochi, Yalta or Sevastopol can be a port of passengers change, believes Victor Olersky.
In September 2016 RF President Vladimir Putin endorsed instructions to organize sea cruises and regular sea and air traffic between Sochi and cities in Crimea starting with the 2017 holiday season.
