Ferries of the Kerch crossing.

"Olympiad" (Dorieus) is the second of the Greek car ferries that has been carrying out transportation on the Kerch ferry crossing since July 16, 2014. Together with the ferry, Jonas should take on the main load of passenger transportation

and passenger transport through the Kerch crossing.

Story

Built in the UK to the Superflex 2000 design. The original name Superflex Golf was 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

On July 12-16, 2014, he sailed from the port of Piraeus to the port of Caucasus. The ferry set off on this voyage under the new name Olympics.

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

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

On August 24, he was damaged during a pile-up on the pier. The ferry remained on the line; the lighting mast in the port was broken.

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

The crossing team managed to build a clear labor organization system, achieve planned targets and ensure trouble-free operation in all directions and sections. I would like 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 their contemporaries and the grateful long memory of their descendants.

Mikhail Morekhodov, full member of the Petrovsky Academy of Sciences and Arts

From the history. Heyday

In the early 1950s, construction of the port of Crimea began on the northeastern outskirts of Kerch, and the port of Caucasus on the Chushka spit. Each port could simultaneously receive two railway ferries. U-shaped lifts (a 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. By using ferry crossing it became possible to reduce the distance of transportation from the Ukrainian and Moldavian SSR to the regions by 270 km Krasnodar region and the Caucasus, and from Crimea and the southern regions of Ukraine - almost 1000 km.

It is important to note that the Kerch ferry crossing at the initial stage was subordinate to the Department of Railway Communications of the Dnieper railway. Later came under the Ministry navy 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 the Amur Shipyard, Komsomolsk-on-Amur and OJSC PA 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 to operate on the transpolar route - on railway crossings across the Yenisei in Ermakovo and across the Ob in Salekhard.

The second pair of ships – “Severny” and “Chulym” – was laid down on May 25, 1951; these two ferries were built according to project 723-u. “Nadym” and “Zapolyarny” entered the fleet on July 31, 1951, “Severny” 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 - work on the construction of the main line was suddenly stopped, and all four ships were redirected to a new crossing in the Kerch Strait, while “Nadym” was renamed “Vostochny”, and “Chulym” - in "South".

Since the difference in water levels in the Kerch Strait is small, car lifts were dismantled from the ferries, and U-shaped lifts installed on the shore were used instead, 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 also transported cars - the space free from wagons in the bow of the ship could accommodate several cars. Sometimes ferries operated without carriages, filling the entire deck with vehicles.

During operation at the Kerch ferry crossing, a number of technical improvements were carried out, for example, the area was expanded upper deck, and at Yuzhny they built an additional tier of the wheelhouse...

A railway ferry with an open carriage deck, equipped in the bow with an 80-ton carriage lift, ensuring the reception of carriages with a lifting height with water level differences of up to 5 meters.

From the history. Decay

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

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

Financial and economic problems following the collapse of the USSR prevented the development and construction of new ferries. For more than 10 years, the ferry transported passengers and cars only.

In 2004, with the arrival of two new ships and the reconstruction of port facilities, rail transportation of freight trains was resumed, but the volume of cargo 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 vehicle transportation and passenger transportation: Kerchensky-1, Kerchensky-2 and Yeysk. In 1975, the first car ferry, Kerch-1, was built at the Riga Shipyard for the Kerch crossing. In 1978, the second car ferry, Kerch-2, arrived at the crossing.

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

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

The Kerch-1 ferry has ceased to participate in the crossing since the early 2000s. Projects to convert this ferry into a tug or fire vessel were discussed, but they were never implemented. In 2012, the ferry went to metal. The Kerch-2 and Yeisk car ferries 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 functioning of the Kerch ferry crossing, identifying 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, transportation of passengers and Vehicle to the Crimean Federal District.

The transport fleet, which transports trains, freight and passenger vehicles, as well as passengers, is represented by several companies; it is “mixed”, old (used), oversized and small in capacity, and is not designed to work in these conditions.

The exception is ferries for transporting freight trains. There are two ferries involved here: the Petrovsk ferry and the Annenkov ferry.

The 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 platform vessels “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, at the shipbuilding and ship repair plant " South Sevastopol» The ships were converted and modernized as railway ferries. After re-equipment, they received a new classification KM * L4 1 IISP (rolling). A three-lane track line is installed on the deck of the ferry, which accommodates 25 cars. Each of the ferries carries out four round trips per day between the ports of Crimea and Kavkaz.

That is, the railway ferries operating on this line were specially converted to operate on this section. Particular attention was paid to the possibility of using the existing shore-ship docking system. It is also important to note that a lot of work has been done to modernize and technically re-equip the marshalling yard in the port of Kavkaz. The volume of formation of railway trains has been increased. However, the volumes of transported railway cars today are 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 crossing infrastructure, it is in an unsightly 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. No required protective structures(from sun and rain), equipped platforms for buses, fences, benches and benches.

3. Pedestrian paths for passengers are not marked, equipped or equipped.

4. Passengers board and exit the ferry through the cargo ramp, often simultaneously with traffic road transport, which is unsafe.

5. Movement across the crossing area is chaotic, the movement of passengers and the movement of vehicles is carried out simultaneously, and is not controlled or regulated by anyone.

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 have no vision for its further development and preservation as a strategic object. What awaits a unique transport artery with its own history and difficult fate. Flourishing and progress or decline and disappearance. I don't want to realize that transport artery(ferry crossing) Crimea - The Caucasus will suddenly disappear. A number of companies have managed to introduce and secure ferries on the line that transport vehicles and passengers, heavy vehicles and trains. But it is important to understand that this unique transport hub does not have a clearly structured development program, management system and support for life in the future. The role and activities of Marine Directorate LLC are short-term in organizational terms, and in matters of modernization and further development they are uncertain. 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:

– first – maritime transport, its technical condition, management and control system to ensure navigation safety and prevent injuries to passengers;

– second – coastal structures, 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 us pay attention to what Russian companies transporting goods and passengers through the Kerch Strait have at their disposal today. As we already know, on this line from Crimea to Caucasus there are two railway ferries that provide transportation of trains.

On the line Kavkaz - Kerch Sea Trading port Heavy vehicles are transported by three ferries: Major Chapichev, Yeisk and Kerch-2. Let's consider their technical characteristics.

The ferry "Major Chapichev" is the flagship on this line.

Ferries "Kerch-2" and "Eysk"

The Kerch-2 car ferry was built in 1978, the Yeisk ferry 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 power 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 an increase in the number of ferries operating on the crossing, the least capacious of them - Kerch-2 and Yeysk - were transferred to the line Kavkaz port - Kerch fishing port.

There are four ferries operating on the line from the port of Crimea to the port of Kavkaz: “Crimea”, “Protoporos IV”, “Pobeda” and “Olympia”. All of the above ferries were purchased Russian companies from foreign shipowners and introduced into the transport system of the Kerch crossing. Let us introduce the reader to these courts in more detail.

The cargo-passenger ferry "Crimea" (formerly 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-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, it has been operating on the line from Crimea to Caucasus under the flag of the Russian Federation. Age 5 years.

The cargo-passenger ferry Pobeda (formerly Protoporos VI) was built in 2012. Boatbuilder: 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, with its home port of Corser. It was resold several times, changing 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

Completion of construction of the Kerch crossing is scheduled for December 2018. With the commissioning of a new modern transport route, the transport characteristics of the region and its infrastructure component will radically change. The ferry crossing port Crimea - port Kavkaz (Kerch ferry) seems to fall out of transport system Crimean Federal District. It will not be able to compete with a more modern, more convenient and technically equipped bridge crossing - 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 a vital role in ensuring the security of the region.

No matter how time unfolds, no matter what problems life poses to us, we must remember that everything that was created by the hands of the people must be preserved and increased. Therefore, it is important to understand that this object must remain in the hands of the state, under its control and protection. The opportunities for using it wisely 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. Studying the possibilities for transporting heavy vehicles from the ports of Crimea and Caucasus in the direction of the Black Sea ports, and in the future, a 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 such as “Superfoil-38” and “Olympia” at the “MORE” shipyard and using the crossing area as a base for the operation and maintenance of these vessels. Consider the construction of a marine terminal and a tourist center.

The capabilities of this object, like the object itself, are invaluable. Anything that cannot be used today must be canned and stored. And you need to treat everything with care and attention - this is a strategic object.

Sea News of Russia No. 2 (2016)

Summer has come. And with it comes the long-awaited holiday season. In which (like last year) many of our compatriots will again go to everyone’s beloved Crimea. Some will do it on the plane, others will choose single ticket by train and bus, well, someone will probably go to Crimea by car. This means that he will not only make an exciting road trip, but will also become part of a short and inexpensive, but quite real sea ​​cruise- sailed from Taman to 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 photographs and brief characteristics all currently operating car ferries across the Kerch Strait.

Currently, passengers are transported from the port of Kavkaz to the Crimea terminal of the port of Kerch and in the opposite direction by ferries: “Olympiada”, “Crimea”, “Glykofilousa III”, “Protoporos IV”, “Major Chapichev”, “Pobeda”.

Ferry "Glycofilous III".

Ferry "Olympiad"(formerly "Dorieus").
Capacity - 600 passengers, 120 cars / 16 cargo vehicles.

Ferry "Protoporos IV".

Ferry "Major Chapichev"(formerly "Glycofilous-II").
Capacity - 500 passengers, 160 passenger cars / 18 cargo vehicles.

Ferry "Pobeda"(formerly "Protoporos-VI").
Capacity - 500 passengers, 150 passenger vehicles.

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

In reserve are:

Ferry "Kerch 2".

Ferry "Eysk".
Capacity - 160 passengers, 16 cargo vehicles.

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

The cargo-passenger ferry “Olympiada” (“Olympiad”) became the second Greek ferry, which since July 16, 2014 has been transporting passengers and cars on the Kerch ferry.

The cargo-passenger ferry "Olympiada" was built as a "Superflex Golf", becoming the seventh in a series of 15 ferries Ro-ro type with a special engine unit of the Superflex 2000 project. 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.

The ferry "Superflex Golf" IMO: 8611532 was built under construction number 3007 at the Pallion shipyard. 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 operating under the flag of Denmark, with its home port of Korsoer.

In December 1994 it was sold to Islena de Navegacion S.A. and renamed "Antonio Machado". Operated under the flag of Spain, home port of Algericas. In July 2003, it was sold to EneRmaR Transporti Isole Sarde Srl., and began operating under the flag of Italy, with its home port of Reggio Calabria. In December 2004, it became owned by NGI Navigazione and was renamed Razzoli. In May 2008, the Razzoli ferry became owned by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) and was renamed Reggio. In March 2012, the ferry was acquired by the Greek company Corfu Superflex I Ltd. The ferry was reconstructed. In May 2012, the ferry began operating again under the name "Dorieus", flying the flag of Greece, home port of Piraeus.

In July 2014, the ferry "Dorieus" was transferred to Diverior Shipping Ltd., transferred to the flag of Cyprus, home port of Limassol. From July 12 to 16, 2014, the ferry “Dorieus” sailed from the Port of Piraeus to the port of Caucasus under the new name “Olympiada” (“Olympiad”).

Cargo-passenger ferry "Olympiada" ("Olympiad") IMO: 8611532, flag Cyprus, home port of Limassol, was commissioned 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 cars on the lower deck and 65 on the upper deck.

On the night of July 16-17, 2014, it performed a test circular flight, transporting 216 cars, 955 passengers and 10 buses. On August 24, he was damaged during a pile-up on the pier. The ferry remained on the line; the lighting mast in the port was broken. On October 10, in the port of Crimea, while leaving the coast, the pontoon pier was torn off its chains. November 02 in stormy weather conditions on the left steering column.

According to a message dated March 23, 2015, the ferry is for further repairs. The renovation work is expected to be completed by early April. On April 15, TechFlot completed the planned annual dock repair of the ferry "Olympiada" under the supervision of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. April 17 at 20:00 hours “Crimea - Caucasus” after a scheduled examination. On September 24 at 17:00 Moscow time, it made an impact on the quay wall in the port of Crimea. As a result of the incident, 4 cars and 2 trucks on the ferry and the quay wall, according to preliminary data, measuring 5.0 x 2.0 x 1.5 meters were damaged. The vessel received a dent above the waterline in the area of ​​the stem on the starboard side measuring 0.8 x 0.7 x 0.2 meters, seaworthiness was not impaired. There were no casualties, no water leaks in the hull, no sea pollution.