Türkiye-Russia ferry connection returns with inaugural voyage from Trabzon

Ferry service between Russia and Türkiye has officially resumed after a long hiatus, with the Trabzon–Sochi ferry making its first voyage in many years on the evening of November 5.

The revived route now allows passengers to travel directly between the two countries by sea, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

The ferry, departing from the Turkish port city of Trabzon, set sail for Sochi at 21:10 local time. 

The journey across the Black Sea is expected to take approximately 12 hours.

A total of 20 passengers were on board the inaugural voyage. To mark the festive occasion, the organisers arranged for those who had purchased standard “aeroplane” seats to be accommodated in cabins instead.

The Trabzon–Sochi ferry last operated in 2011. The relaunch had originally been scheduled for October 29, 2025, but was postponed for a week due to severe weather conditions, including a storm.

According to Mustafa Çakır, a spokesman for the shipping company Liderline, the Seabridge ferry operating the Trabzon–Sochi route is fully insured against all risks. He added that passengers on board will be able to make payments in rubles at both the cafeteria and the restaurant.

The ferry has the capacity to carry up to 450 passengers and is crewed by 25 people, a number that can be increased to 40 when the vessel is operating at full capacity.

In addition to passenger transport, the ferry is designed to accommodate 20 vans or 200 cars and is equipped with lifeboats and launches to ensure safety at sea.

By Tamilla Hasanova