Ukrainian railways transported over 166,000 tons of cargo through the Chornomorsk-Poti/Batumi ferry crossing in the first six months of 2017, the Ukrainian Railways public joint-stock company (Ukrzaliznytsia) announced.
According to Ukrzaliznytsia, this represents a 50% increase compared with the first six months of 2016. Exports increased by 65% and transit by 10%.
According to Ukrzaliznytsia, two ferries belonging to the Bulgarian Maritime Fleet, which have a capacity of 108 wagons (two container trains), are currently used on the Chornomorsk-Poti/Batumi ferry crossing.
During a Georgian-Ukrainian investment forum in Batumi, Ukrzaliznytsia’s Director for Freight Transport and Logistics Maksym Kushnarchuk said that further integration of rail transport into the transport link between Ukraine and Georgia required development of tariff conditions, harmonization of through tariffs, and optimization of transport timetables.
Previously, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Viktor Dovhan said that Ukraine and Georgia were discussing the creation of a joint venture to operate ferries on the Black Sea.
As the CFTS previously reported, the Illichivsk (Chornomorsk) shipyard recently completed the repair of the Heroes of Shipka ferry, which is managed by Ukrzaliznytsia. The Liski Transport Service Center, which is a logistics subsidiary of Ukrzaliznytsia, intends to operate this ferry and the Heroes of Plevna ferry on the Trans-Caspian route. The ferries are to be operated on the Chornomorsk-Poti/Batumi line.
According to Ukrzaliznytsia, the Heroes of Plevna ferry is currently undergoing a major overhaul.
