The Sassnitz ferry port is seeing an unexpected boom in ferry traffic with Russia. As of now „Petersburg“ calls Sassnitz-Mukran three times per week, which is the twelve-fold frequency of the previous service. The first call is scheduled for 22 February. One reason therefore is the closure of the Polish border for Russian trucks due to transit disputes.
Harm Sievers, Managing Director Fährhafen Sassnitz GmbH, emphasised: “We are ready to expand the ferry traffic and we have the capacity to manage this sharp increase smoothly. We can also benefit from our longstanding experience in traffic with Russia.”
“Petersburg“, calling the ferry port on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, can carry up to 80 trucks. The vessel operates a shuttle service between Sassnitz and Baltijsk, which is also the shortest sea distance between Russia and Germany. In the past the initially positive development of ferry traffic on the Sassnitz – Ust Luga route had been thwarted by the Russian crisis and the weak rouble. Lately “Petersburg“ had been calling the ferry port only once per month.
The Sassnitz ferry port is the only port in western Europe that is equipped with tracks and throughput facilities for rail wagons of Russian broad gauge, and i soften called the most-western cargo station of the Tran Siberian Railway. This unique feature allows throughput and packaging of cargo destined for the CIS, the Baltic States and Finland. The catchment area includes goods flows from Central and Southeastern Europe.
