Ukraine has resumed management of the fleet of train ferries that was leased to a private operator. The "Heroes of Shipka" train ferry, the "Heroes of Plevna" train ferry, and the "Caledonia" car ferry have returned from the lessee, the Ukrferry company, and they have been transferred onto the books of the Ilyichevsk seaport, the only seaport with a train-ferry bridge in Ukraine, the RZhD-Partner publication writes.
As reported, the return of these assets from the Ukrferry company to the state was initiated by the State Property Fund of Ukraine. According to estimates by the State Property Fund, the book value of these assets at the time of the commencement of the process of their return was about UAH 30 million (about USD 1.3 million).
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, the volume of ferry cargo traffic through the port of Ilyichevsk is falling: it fell by 9% in 2014, when the target was missed by more than 10%.
The plan for the current year envisages an increase of 1.5% in cargo transportation, but cargo transportation fell by 40% in the first half of the year compared with the corresponding period of 2014.
As RZD-Partner previously reported, international ferry service on the water market of Ukraine has intensified, with an emphasis on the automobile component, while the railway component has reduced.
