ArmInfo. In the first quarter of 2023, a ferry service will be launched from the Georgian port of Poti to the Russian port of Kavkaz. Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia Narek Teryan in an interview with the Public Television of Armenia expressed a similar opinion.
He emphasized that the issue is already out of the political arena, and all processes are coordinated with both Georgian and Russian partners.
He recalled that in April 2022, due to Western sanctions against the Russian Federation, the agreement to launch a ferry service was postponed. However, already in September, as Teryan noted, the lists of goods and ferries that can use this port were clarified with the operator of the Poti ferry, the Dutch APM Terminals Poti company.
It should be reminded that back in the spring of last year, RA Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan announced the launch of a regular ferry service from June 15 from the Georgian port of Poti to the Russian port of Kavkaz. However, to this day, the issue has not been moved forward. The ferry crossing was operated by the APM Terminals Poti shipping company, which imposed sanctions against the Russian Federation in connection with the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. As a result, transportation along the planned route came under restrictions. Earlier, the Ministry of Economy reported that negotiations were underway with the operator so that the restrictions imposed against the Russian Federation would not apply to Armenian ferry traffic.
It should be noted that the ferry service will connect the railway communication of Armenia with the railway system of the EAEU. The state intends to subsidize the ferry service, at the same time the South Caucasian Railway (SCR) promised to reduce tariffs (by 30%) in the direction of Russia with a link to the Eurasian railway system. Tariffs were also announced to be reduced by Russian (50%) and Georgian (25%) railways.
