Inexhaustible optimism
30.01.2012 (10:43)
New ferry line was opened in Ust-Luga port in January, 2012. Now ships will go by route Russia - Finland - Denmark. Ferries of Finnish company Finnlines will transport cargoes, including containers from Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway.
Danish companies have showed interest in Russia in the last year, however its have declared that the container service on Baltics is interfaced to any problems. Particularly, in the Danish port one container is processed for 45 minutes, and in St.-Petersburg port this procedure takes about 7 days, - in the ambassador's of Denmark in Russia Pera Karlsena words. Nevertheless, this problem hasn't prevented creation of a new ferry route.
The past year has appeared successful for the companies which are engaged in ferry transportations in the Northwest pool. So that there was opened a new service Ust-Luga - Kil, and ferries will go not once at week as it was earlier, and two times, that will allow to increase a turnover of goods on the this direction.
As to ferry line to Denmark, experts say that it's start can promote change of cargo traffic between Russia and the European Union countries, because you know, that kingdom plays an important role on the market of container services. But it's necessary not forget about problems which wait the ferries on regular routes. Many of them have an effect on traffic and regularity of trips. In certain cases delays are connected with weather conditions, but the majority directly depends on work of seaport. For example, as mark in companies "Anship" and «BFI», trips are late frequently because of enormous "paper" work in the Russian ports, meanwhile in the European countries for a long time all documents are submitted in electronic form.
Besides, ferrymen complain to old equipment of the Russian seaports, and to untimely help of ice breakers in severe winters. For a long time people try to make something with out-of-date equipment but the way of struggle against of this problem only one - is investments. It is planned that within the bounds of the target program «Modernization of Russian transport system (2010-2015)» in the development of sea terminals it will be enclosed nearby 110 billion rubles. Herewith private investors should lay out the considerable means, and they would like changes in the Russian legislation for returning of part of their investments.
However no difficulties reduce optimism with which the Russian side looks ahead. Particularly, expectations are connected with closing of ferry service between ports Klaipeda and Sassnitz. Specialists believe that cargoes from this route will pass to the line Ust-Luga - Sassnitz. At least RZD JSC counts on such development of events partially. But even if redistribution of cargo traffics occurs not in favor of Russia it will affect weakly on development of this ferry line.
Elena Dmitrievskaya
Print version
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