Maritime Council of the Government of St. Petersburg said it would apply for 964 million rubles this year from the federal budget to build a crossing border point at the "Passenger Port of St. Petersburg", a PortNews correspondent reports from the Council meeting.
According to Nicholas Asaul, Chairman of the transport and transit policy Committee, speaking at the meeting, the deadlines of the third starting port complex might be frustrated without adequate funding.

The construction of three phases of marine passenger port "Marine Façade" in St. Petersburg began in 2006. Two berths, a cruise terminal building with associated onshore facilities had been completed on the first phase. In September 2008 the first vessel called at the port.

Currently, the third phase construction is ongoing. Its start scheduled in 2010. The port can accommodate cruise and ferry vessels up to 311 m in length and a draft of 9 m. The length of the new approach channel is 10 km, the projected depth of approach channels and waters is 11 m. There will be 7 berths, the wharf wall will be 2.108 m in length.

The first border crossing point at the passenger terminal of specialized seaport "Marine Façade" was opened in March 2009. In February the second crossing point for border, customs and other procedures was opened at the passenger cruise port station N2.