Andrey Kuznetsov about e-tickets for river trips in St. Petersburg
- Mr. Kuznetsov, tell about the new e-ticket system? Is Astramarine the first company in St. Petersburg to introduce it?
- Yes, we are the first to launch the internet-shop providing e-tickets for trips along St. Petersburg rivers and canals as well as to Peterhof, Kronshtadt, Oreshek fortress at any moment from any place of the world. Actually, our travel services are provided to both St. Petersburg residents and guests planning a visit to our city. Now they can make their travel schedule and buy tickets in advance. Besides the convenience of this method I’d like to note a considerable discount provided for e-tickets – some 20-25%. It is possible with the absence of costs for a box office, cashier wages etc.
For instance, average price for Meteor hydrofoil from St. Petersburg to Petrodvorets is RUB 650 while the price for e-ticket can be reduced to RUB 400.
It should be noted that today only the “Central” berth is equipped with ticket gates dealing with e-tickets.
- When will the new service be available?
- The launch of the program is scheduled for early May 2013.
- How did the repair of the Palace Bridge influence the activities of Astramarine?
- Of course, the construction works entail certain disadvantages. Nevertheless, like the majority of the city residents and guests, we regard it with favour as with the end of the repair the Palace Bridge will delight us with its beauty for many years.
In the first half of May, whilst the bridge area is closed for navigation, our vessels will use other routes via the port water area and towards the Petrovsky fairway via the Gulf of Finland. Besides, we have concluded an agreement to sail off from the Palace embankment in front of the Hermitage over the bridge repair period. With the opening of the draw span of the bridge scheduled for the second half of May we will return to our berth “near the Lions” in front of the Admiralty. From that moment we will revive all our regular routes.
- How do you estimate your fleet preparedness to the navigation?
- The entire fleet of Astramarine is ready for the navigation. The fleet comprises 14 vessels including 6 high-speed motor vessels. From May 1, 2013, we launch Peterhof-express line with high-speed vessels towards Peterhof.
- What are the activities of your company today?
- Our company, the history of which exceeds 10 years, has two major activities today. First of all, it is corporate services (celebrations of different levels, conferences). The other activity is the work with individual tourists. As of today we arrange 18 different tours not only by St. Petersburg rivers and canals but also to Petrodvorets, Oreshek fortress and Kronshtadt. All these enable us to preserve the leading position in the sphere of river travel services in St. Petersburg.
I would note that today Astramarine is a small shipping company with all functions typical for a normal full-scale shipping company. We have obtained the permit of the Russian River Register for shiprepair and shipbuilding operations. So we have a shiprepair base, our own company in charge of commercial operation of the fleet, technical department of fleet operation, staff recruitment subdivision as well as a subdivision for service sales.
Interviewed by Margarita Babkova