Ferries of the Kerch crossing. Kerch crossing is a strategic object

The cargo-passenger ferry "Olympiada" ("Olympias") became the second Greek ferry, which since July 16, 2014 has been carrying passengers and cars at the Kerch ferry.

The Olympiada was built as the Superflex Golf, the seventh in a series of 15 Ro-ro ferries with a special Superflex 2000 engine assembly. The project was developed by PZ Trading, which also took over the sale of the ships. This series was built at two North East Shipbuilders shipyards in the UK.

Ferry "Superflex Golf" IMO: 8611532 was built under building number 3007 at the shipyard in Pallion. Launching took place on January 22, 1988. On June 17, 1988, construction was completed, but the ferry remained at the shipyard. In 1989, it was acquired by VR Shipping ApS and began to operate under the flag of Denmark, the home port of Corsoer.

In December 1994, it was sold to Islena de Navegacion S.A., renamed "Antonio Machado". He worked under the flag of Spain, port of registry Algericas. In July 2003, it was sold to EneRmaR Transporti Isole Sarde Srl., began to operate under the flag of Italy, the home port of Reggio di Calabria. In December 2004, it became owned by NGI Navigazione and renamed Razzoli. In May 2008, the Razzoli was taken over by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) and renamed Reggio. In March 2012, the ferry was purchased by the Greek company Corfu Superflex I Ltd. The ferry has been renovated. In May 2012, the ferry started working again under the name "Dorieus", under the flag of Greece, the port of registry of Piraeus.

In July 2014, the Dorieus ferry was transferred to Diverior Shipping Ltd., transferred under the flag of Cyprus, the port of registry of Limassol. From July 12 to July 16, 2014, the Dorieus ferry made the transition from the Port of Piraeus to the Port of Kavkaz, already under the new name "Olympiada" ("Olympic Games").

Passenger-and-freight ferry Olympiada IMO: 8611532, flag of Cyprus, port of registry Limassol, entered service in 1989, building number 3007. Shipbuilder: North East Shipbuilders, Sunderland, UK. Owner: Diverior Shipping Ltd., Cyprus.

Main characteristics: Tonnage 918 tons, deadweight 1291 tons. Length 93.8 meters, width 15 meters, draft 3.2 meters. Speed ​​11.5 knots. Accommodates 600 people, 104 vehicles on the lower deck and 65 on the upper deck.

On the night of July 16-17, 2014, he performed a test round trip carrying 216 cars, 955 passengers and 10 buses. On August 24, she received damage during a bulk on the pier. The ferry remained on the line, the light tower was broken in the port. On October 10, in the port of Crimea, when moving away from the coast, he tore off the pontoon mooring from the chains. November 02 in stormy weather on the left steering column.

As reported on March 23, 2015, the ferry is for further repairs. It is planned that the repair work will be completed by early April. On April 15, TechFlot completed the scheduled annual dock repair of the Olimpiada ferry under the supervision of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. April 17 at 20:00 "Crimea - Caucasus" after a scheduled examination. On September 24, at 17:00 Moscow time, he made a bulk on the quay wall in the port of "Crimea". As a result of the incident, 4 cars and 2 trucks were damaged, which were on the ferry and the quay wall, according to preliminary data, 5.0 x 2.0 x 1.5 meters in size. The vessel received a dent above the waterline in the region of the bow on the starboard side, measuring 0.8 x 0.7 x 0.2 meters, seaworthiness is not violated. There were no casualties, water leakage of the hull, no pollution of the sea.

"Olympias" (Doria) is the second of the Greek car ferries, which since July 16, 2014 has been carrying out transportation at the Kerch ferry crossing. Together with the ferry, Ionas should take on the main burden of transporting passengers

and passenger transport through the Kerch ferry.

Story

Built in the UK according to the Superflex 2000 project. The original name Superflex Golf has changed several times.

The ferry became the seventh in the series. Launching took place on January 22, 1988. On June 17, 1988, construction was completed, but the ferry remained at the shipyard.

In 2012, the vessel was reconstructed.

Kerch crossing

July 12-16, 2014 made the transition from the port of Piraeus to the port of Kavkaz. The ferry went on this voyage under the new name Olimpiada.

On the night of July 16-17, it performed a test round trip carrying 216 cars, 955 passengers and 10 buses. On July 17, at 09:00, the ferry left the port of Kavkaz for the second voyage with 131 cars on board and 413 passengers. By the beginning of work, 2,200 cars were waiting on the line of their turn from the port of Kavkaz. The waiting time for loading personal vehicles reached 40 hours.

During the first day of the ferry's operation, the queue decreased by 1000 cars, and the waiting time was up to 30 hours. During the second day of work, the queue was reduced to 500 cars, the waiting time was up to 10 hours.
This mode of operation was accepted by the ferry operator as a regular mode and during the next day the number of flights was reduced, and the queue length was 600 cars with a loading waiting time of 11 hours.

On August 24, she received damage during a bulk on the pier. The ferry remained on the line, the light tower was broken in the port.

On September 22, 2015, the Kerch crossing turned 61 years old. It would seem that the historical period is not so great, but the role of this transport artery in the economic development of the region is respected. And the built-in system in organizing the transportation of goods and passengers delights and is an example for the current leadership. It is important to note that for the entire period of operation of the Kerch crossing between the Crimean and Kavkaz settlements, there was not a single accident or accident. The high professional level of the crossing management and the experience of the working staff made it possible to combine railway, road and sea transport into a single transport complex, ensuring the transportation of goods and passengers through the Kerch Strait.

The crossing team managed to build a clear system of labor organization, achieve the fulfillment of planned targets and ensure trouble-free operation in all directions and areas. I want to note that the team of the Kerch crossing for their creative work, service to the country, people, society received the respect and love of contemporaries and the grateful long memory of descendants.

Mikhail Morekhodov, Member of the Petrovsky Academy of Sciences and Arts

From the history. heyday

In the early 1950s, the construction of the port of Crimea began on the northeastern outskirts of Kerch, and the port of Kavkaz was built on the Chushka Spit. Each of the ports could simultaneously receive two railway ferries. U-shaped lifts (docking device) were installed at the berths, lowering a drawbridge with railway tracks onto the ferry.

On September 22, 1954, the Kerch ferry crossing was opened. With the help of the ferry, it became possible to reduce the distance of transportation from the Ukrainian and Moldavian SSR to the regions of the Krasnodar Territory and the Caucasus by 270 km, and from the Crimea and the southern regions of Ukraine - by almost 1000 km.

It is important to note that the Kerch ferry at the initial stage was subordinate to the Department of Railway Communications of the Pridneprovskaya Railway. Later it came under the control of the Ministry of the Navy of the USSR. The transportation of freight and passenger trains, as well as passengers on the offshore section, was provided by Project 723 ferries (Volga type). This project was developed in the mid-1940s by TsKB-51 (currently KB VYMPEL LLC, Nizhny Novgorod), chief designer A.S. Rachkov. The construction of the ferries was carried out by: Amur Shipbuilding Plant, Komsomolsk-on-Amur and OAO PO Sevmash, Severodvinsk.

On April 15, 1950, two ferries of the modernized project 723-bis were laid down. The ferries, named "Nadym" and "Zapolyarny", were the first in a series of four ships intended for operation on the transpolar highway - at railway crossings across the Yenisei to Ermakovo and across the Ob to Salekhard.

The second pair of ships - "Northern" and "Chulym" - were laid down on May 25, 1951, these two ferries were built according to project 723-u. "Nadym" and "Zapolyarny" became part of the fleet on July 31, 1951, "Northern" and "Chulym" - on July 31, 1952.

In the second half of 1951, Nadym arrived in Igarka, and Zapolyarny arrived in Salekhard. "Severny" and "Chulym" did not have time to go to the transpolar highway - the construction of the highway was suddenly stopped, and all four ships were redirected to a new crossing to the Kerch Strait, while "Nadym" was renamed "Vostochny", and "Chulym" - in "Southern".

Since the difference in water levels in the Kerch Strait is small, the car lifts were dismantled from the ferries, instead of them, U-shaped lifts installed on the shore were used, which lowered a drawbridge with railway tracks onto the ferry. As a result, all four ferries were able to be loaded with both freight and passenger cars. The ferries were also engaged in the transportation of cars - several cars could be accommodated in the space free from wagons in the bow of the ship. Sometimes ferries operated flights without wagons, filling the entire deck with vehicles.

During the operation at the Kerch crossing, a number of technical improvements were carried out over the ferries, for example, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe upper deck was expanded, and an additional tier of the wheelhouse was built on the Yuzhny.

Railway ferry with an open wagon deck, equipped in the bow with an 80-ton car hoist, which provides reception of wagons with a lifting height at water level drops of up to 5 meters.

From the history. Decay

Vessels that had been in operation for over 40 years needed serious modernization. The economic and political difficulties that followed the collapse of the USSR were the end of the railway communication through the Kerch Strait.

Vostochny was decommissioned first in 1987. At the same time, the movement of passenger trains through the Kerch ferry stopped - old, worn-out ferries were recognized as unsafe for passenger traffic. Yuzhny and Zapolyarny were decommissioned in 1989 and 1991, respectively. The last remaining railway ferry, Severny, was engaged in the transportation of freight trains until 1996, then it stood in the port of Crimea for several years, after which it was also sent for scrap.

The financial and economic problems that followed the collapse of the USSR prevented the development and construction of new ferries. For more than 10 years, the crossing was engaged only in the transportation of passengers and cars.

In 2004, with the advent of two new vessels and the reconstruction of port facilities, rail transportation of freight trains was resumed, however, the volume of freight transportation was insignificant. The operation of the Kerch crossing was carried out by two states - Ukraine and Russia. Joint management was regulated by an intergovernmental agreement.

Three small ferries were engaged in road and passenger transportation: Kerch-1, Kerch-2 and Yeysk. In 1975, the first car ferry, Kerch-1, was built at the Riga Shipyard for the Kerch Ferry. In 1978, the second car ferry, Kerchsky-2, came to the crossing.

With the advent of car ferries, designed as icebreaker ferries, winter navigation on the Kerch Strait has become easier, it has become year-round.

The third car ferry for the Kerch crossing - Yeysk - was built in Riga in 1988.

The ferry "Kerchinsky-1" from the beginning of the 2000s ceased to participate in the operation of the crossing. Projects were discussed to convert this ferry into a tugboat or a fireboat, but they never came to fruition. In 2012, the ferry went to metal. Car ferries "Kerchinsky-2" and "Yeisk" continue to operate today.

Price of the moment

What is a ferry crossing? It is important to note two factors:

After the return of Crimea to Russia in March 2014, the crossing was managed by the "Unified Transport Directorate" of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation. On January 10, 2015, at the request of the Government of the Republic of Crimea, a decision was made to change the operator. On behalf of the Government of Russia, from January 15 to October 1, 2015, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea was appointed responsible for the uninterrupted operation of the Kerch ferry crossing, appointing the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Crimea as the responsible body for its work.

Marine Directorate LLC, under the control of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Crimea, organizes the supply of material and technical resources, the transportation of passengers and vehicles to the Crimean Federal District.

The transport fleet, which transports trains, trucks and cars, as well as passengers, is represented by several companies, it is “motley”, age (used), overall and low-capacity, not designed to work in these conditions.

The exception is ferries for the transportation of freight trains. Two ferries are involved here: the Petrovsk ferry and the Annenkov ferry.

Ferry "Petrovsk" was re-equipped in 2002, "Annenkov" - in 2003.

It is important to note that at the initial stage, these vessels were designed as a platform ship "Slavutich-3" and "Slavutich-6" (project D 080), built at the Kiev Shipyard and put into operation on April 21, 1984 and June 28, 1986 respectively. In 2002 and 2003, the ships were converted and modernized as railway ferries at the shipbuilding and ship repair plant "Yuzhny Sevastopol". After re-equipment, they received a new classification of KM * L4 1 IISP (rolling). A three-lane track line is installed on the deck of the ferry, which accommodates 25 wagons. Each of the ferries carries out four round trips a day between the ports of Crimea and the Caucasus.

That is, the railway ferries operating on this line were specially converted to work on this section. Particular attention was paid to the possibility of using the existing shore-to-ship docking system. It is also important to note that a lot of work has been done to modernize and re-equip the marshalling yard in the port of Kavkaz. Increased volumes for the formation of trains. However, the volume of railcars transported today is insignificant.

It should also be noted that a small reconstruction was carried out at the crossing itself (for example, the installation of floating berths in the port of Crimea and the port of Kavkaz) for mooring ferries. As for the development of the infrastructure of the crossing, it is in an unattractive state. First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the issues of passenger convenience, ensuring their personal safety, and a high level of service. Here, in my opinion, there are more questions than answers.

1. The infrastructure of the Kerch ferry crossing both in the port of Crimea and in the port of Kavkaz does not meet modern requirements and does not provide passengers with a modern level of convenience.

2. Bus passenger platforms in the port of Crimea are not equipped, in the port of Kavkaz they are limited in size and are closely adjacent to the roadway. There are no necessary protective structures (from the sun and rain), equipped platforms for buses, fences, benches and shops.

3. There are no marked, equipped and equipped pedestrian paths for passengers.

4. Passengers boarding and exit from the ferry are carried out through a cargo ramp, often simultaneously with the movement of road transport, which is unsafe.

5. Traffic on the territory of the crossing is chaotic, the movement of passengers and the movement of vehicles is carried out simultaneously, no one controls or regulates.

Today

It is important to note that the leadership of the Kerch crossing, as well as the leadership of the Council of Ministers of Crimea, apparently does not have a vision for its further development and preservation as a strategic object. What awaits a unique transport artery with its own history and difficult fate. Rise and progress or decline and disappear. I do not want to realize that the transport artery (ferry crossing) Crimea - the Caucasus will suddenly disappear. A number of companies have managed to introduce and secure ferries on the line, which transport vehicles and passengers, heavy vehicles and trains. But it is important to understand that this unique transport hub does not have a well-defined development program, management system and life support in the future. The role and activities of Marine Directorate LLC are short-term in organizational terms, and uncertain in terms of modernization and further development. I believe that such strategically important facilities should remain in the hands of the state, and its technical development and re-equipment should be carried out on the basis of scientific analysis, long-term development plans and competent technical re-equipment and further use in the interests of the state.

Here it is necessary to compare and combine two important components into a single complex:

- the first - maritime transport, its technical condition, the system of management and control to ensure the safety of navigation and the prevention of passenger injuries;

- second - coastal facilities, their reliability and compliance with technical requirements that ensure the safe reception of vehicles, as well as modern infrastructure development for the convenience and safety of passengers.

Fleet

Let's pay attention to what Russian companies transporting goods and passengers through the Kerch Strait have at their disposal today. As you and I already know, there are two railway ferries operating on this line between Crimea and Kavkaz, which provide transportation for trains.

On the line between Kavkaz and the Kerch Commercial Seaport, heavy vehicles are transported by three ferries: Mayor Chapichev, Yeysk and Kerchsky-2. Consider their technical characteristics.

The Mayor Chapichev ferry is the flagship on this line.

Ferries "Kerchinsky-2" and "Yeisk"

Car ferry "Kerchinsky-2" was built in 1978, the ferry "Yeisk" - in 1988, respectively. Shipbuilder: Riga Shipyard, Riga, Latvia. These vessels were designed and built specifically for the Kerch ferry crossing.

Power is supplied from three main engines with a capacity of 735 kW each. The ferry has one deck. Load capacity 240 tons. Can accommodate 215 passengers. Take on board up to 25 cars or 4 heavy vehicles or buses.

On August 15, 2014, due to the increase in the number of ferries operating at the crossing, the least spacious of them - "Kerchsky-2" and "Yeisk" - were transferred to the line port of the Caucasus - Kerch fishing port.

There are four ferries operating on the line between the port of Crimea and the port of Kavkaz: Krym, Protoporos IV, Pobeda and Olympia. All of the above ferries were purchased by Russian companies from foreign ship owners and introduced into the transport system of the Kerch ferry. Let us acquaint the reader with these courts in more detail.

The Krym cargo-passenger ferry (former Ostfold) was built in 1979 at the shipyards of the Norwegian company Rosenberg Mekaniske Verksted. Since August 18, 2014, he has been working at the ferry crossing. Registered under the Russian flag. Age 36 years.

The cargo and passenger ferry Protoporos IV was launched in January 2010 and put into operation the same year. Shipbuilder: Koutalis & Kostergias Shipyard, Athens, Greece. Owner and operator: Evoikos IV Maritime, Eritrea, Greece. Since 2014, he has been working on the line between Krym and Kavkaz under the flag of the Russian Federation. Age 5 years.

The passenger-and-freight ferry Pobeda (former Protoporos VI) was built in 2012. Shipbuilder: Kyriakos Sarantis Stavros Kouris, Sourpi, Greece.

On April 27, 2015, the ferry changed its name to Pobeda and was also registered under the Russian flag. Age 3 years.

In 1989, it was acquired by VR Shipping ApS and began operating under the flag of Denmark, Korser's home port. Repeatedly resold, changed names and owners. Since July 2014, he has been working at the Kerch crossing under the flag of the Russian Federation. The ferry is currently 27 years old.

Tomorrow

The completion of the construction of the Kerch crossing is scheduled for December 2018. With the commissioning of a new modern transport highway, the transport characteristics of the region and its infrastructure component will radically change. The ferry crossing the port of Crimea - the port of Kavkaz (Kerch crossing) seems to fall out of the transport system of the Crimean Federal District. It will not be able to compete with a more modern, more comfortable and technically equipped bridge - this is true and true. But it is important to remember that the Kerch crossing was, is and remains the most important strategic object of our time and plays an important role in ensuring the security of the region.

No matter how time decides, no matter what problems life puts before us, we must remember that everything that was created by the hands of the people must be preserved and multiplied. Therefore, it is important to understand that this object must remain in the hands of the state, under its control and protection. Opportunities for wise use of it are enormous - this is the continuation of the transportation of trains. Placement of a naval base for border boats with the simultaneous organization of a traffic control post in the Kerch Strait and a pilot station. Elaboration of opportunities for the transportation of heavy vehicles from the ports of Crimea and the Caucasus in the direction of the Black Sea ports, and later on the railway crossing (like Ilyichevsk - Varna). Develop a concept for organizing new high-speed passenger lines (Kerch - Rostov-on-Don, Kerch - Taganrog, Kerch - Anapa, Anapa - Feodosia, Yalta, Sevastopol, etc.). Consider the issue of building high-speed vessels of the Superfoil-38 and Olympia type at the MORE shipyard and using the crossing area as a base management for the operation and maintenance of these vessels. To consider the issue of building a sea station and a tourist center.

The possibilities of this object, like the object itself, are invaluable. Everything that cannot be used today should be mothballed and preserved. And everything must be treated carefully and carefully - this is a strategic object.

Maritime News of Russia No. 2 (2016)

Summer has come. And with it - the long-awaited holiday season. In which (like last year) many of our compatriots will again go to everyone's beloved Crimea. Someone will do it by plane, someone will choose a single ticket for the train and bus, well, and someone, for sure, will go to Crimea in their car. This means that he will not only make an exciting road trip, but will also become part of, albeit a short and inexpensive, but quite a real sea cruise - sailing from Taman to the Crimea and back on one of the ferries of the Kerch ferry crossing. And if so, then I propose to get acquainted in advance with the future ships of your planned trip by looking under the cat, where photos and brief characteristics of all currently operating car ferries through the Kerch Strait are collected.

At the moment, the delivery of passengers from the port of Kavkaz to the Crimean terminal of the port of Kerch and in the opposite direction is carried out by the ferries: Olimpiada, Krym, Glykophilous III, Protoporos IV, Major Chapichev, Pobeda.

Ferry Glycofilous III.

Ferry "Olympiad"(former "Dorieus").
Capacity - 600 passengers, 120 cars / 16 trucks.

Ferry "Protoporos IV".

Ferry "Mayor Chapichev"(former "Glycofilous-II").
Capacity - 500 passengers, 160 cars / 18 trucks.

Ferry "Victory"(former "Protoporos-VI").
Capacity - 500 passengers, 150 cars.

Ferry "Crimea"(formerly "Ostfold").
Capacity - 600 passengers, 160 cars / 16 trucks.

In reserve are:

Ferry "Kerch 2".

Ferry "Yeisk".
Capacity - 160 passengers, 16 freight vehicles.

Ferry "Nikolay Aksyonenko".
Capacity - 260 passengers, 41 cars / 6 buses.