The Ukrzaliznytsia public railway company’s Black Sea ferries should resume operation and go out to sea in early 2017. The management of Ukrzaliznytsia has set this task, the company’s board member Marek Zalesny told the Magistral newspaper, CFTS reports.
Speaking of Ukraine’s prospects on the New Silk Road, the Polish executive said that the most important task is currently restoration of the operations of the ferries.
"I have been informed that they are in such a poor condition that they can only be scrapped. However, after visiting Odesa, I was convinced that these are vessels that are still good with fantastic equipment, for both rail and road transport. We also had ferries at PKP Cargo. However, they were less functional. Yet, they benefited the company," Zalesny said.
According to him, tenders have already been invited for repair of one of the ferries. Ukrzaliznytsia expects to launch ferries to Georgian ports soon as possible.
As reported, Ukrzaliznytsia Board Chairman Wojciech Balczun believes that the ferries on books of Ukrzaliznytsia can be put back into service sufficiently quickly.
As CFTS previously reported, CTS Liski, the logistics unit of Ukrzaliznytsia, intends to operate the “Heroes of Shipka” and “Heroes of Plevna” ferries on the Trans-Caspian route. The company is currently taking measures to launch the vessels into operation.
