Partial Restoration of Ferry Service Between Chornomorsk and Varna
The ferry service between Chornomorsk and Varna, which was suspended during the full-scale invasion, has recently partially resumed operations. The cargo ferry “Vilnius” has already made several trips to Bulgaria’s maritime capital, as reported by correspondents.
This is reported by AgroReview
According to information from “Dumskaya”, this route has once again become part of the new ferry line Chornomorsk — Varna — Batumi, connecting the Odesa region with Georgia. After departing from Chornomorsk, the “Vilnius” stops in Varna for a few hours before embarking on a two-day journey to the Caucasian coast. Currently, the ferry is transporting cargo, while the cabins for passengers are being used by long-haul truck drivers.
History of the Ferry Service
The Chornomorsk — Varna ferry service was opened nearly 47 years ago — on November 14, 1978. Today, the ferry terminal’s capacity allows for the transshipment of up to 4.5 million tons of cargo per year, including over 400,000 trucks and 250,000 cars and other wheeled vehicles.
The ferry “Vilnius”, built in Germany in 1987, is one of the largest road-rail ferries in the world. It is 191 meters long, 28 meters wide, has a gross tonnage of over 22,000 tons, and a speed of 14.5 knots. It can accommodate up to 50 universal railway cars and 50 large trucks with trailers. The ferry is also equipped with cabins for 108 passengers, a restaurant, a bar, and a children’s playroom.
Importance of the Route’s Restoration
Analyst Alexey Sukhy from “Dumskaya” notes that the resumption of the Chornomorsk — Varna ferry service signifies the opening of a new important transport corridor for Ukraine.
“This route has existed for several decades, being the fastest transport artery connecting our region with Asia. The resumption of operations was supposed to happen last summer; however, it was postponed several times due to the security situation that prevented the ferries from starting operations,” the analyst emphasized.
Currently, businesses are feeling better than last year, the Ukrainian maritime corridor is operating smoothly, and container ships and railway ferries have returned to the ports of Greater Odesa.