Transport Ministry officials focus on Ust-Luga - Kiel / Sassnitz ferry line issues
A number of urgent issues relating to the new ferry line Ust-Luga - Kiel / Sassnitz (operator DFDS), could be solved at a meeting chaired by the Russian Deputy Transport Minister Viktor Olersky to be held on June 17, 2011 in St. Petersburg, said Igor Levitin, Minister of Transport. Earlier Mr. Levitin and Mr. Olersky had met with DFDS Seaways President & CEO Niels Smedegaard.
Nils Smedegaard highlighted some issues at the meeting, primarily the operation of the Ust-Luga terminal, which should be solved to improve the efficiency of the ferry line, the Transport Ministry’s press office said.
In his turn, Igor Levitin drew attention to the competitiveness of the new line. He said the Ministry would assist DFDS in obtaining a COTIF license and in other issues.
The first ship of the new ferry weekly service arrived at the port of Ust-Luga this May. The line’s agent in Russia is SCF DFDS Lines ltd.
Another service, UCS’ Kiel-Ust-Luga Container Line was launched on May 9th, when the first boxship from Germany called at Ust-Luga port.