New RoRo Services between Turkish Samsun and Gelendzhik Port

Stakonta Enterprises Ltd declared launching of new RoRo service between Turkish Samsun and Gelendzhik port in the South Russia. The service is presented by a single Russian carrier C-Shipping Inc/Novorossiysk (agents of Stakonta) within Turkish RoRo carriers historically dominating at Black Sea trade ever since Soviet Union collapse.

The service is supported by shareholders of Gelendzhik port with a view to diversify cargo flows via this shallow port given Federal Authorities intentions to renovate port infrastructure by 2016. Expectedly, dredging and building of breakwaters will bring about new passenger and cargo traffic between Turkey and Gelendzhik. Notably, Turkey is a top trading partner of Krasnodar region of Russia.

Despite rumours on discrimination of Turkish RoRo carriers in Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik, market players report that every carrier is welcomed into trade subject to compliance with national legislation. Both Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik presently accepts foreign vessels in accordance with respective port forwarding commitments.

Allegedly, new Samsun/Gelendzhik service targets Turkish customers of fruits and vegetables bringing competitive advantages of fast delivery of goods, being of highest value in trade of perishable goods.

The first voyage from Samsun to Gelendzhik has been completed just on 07/10 – mv Zoya (3000 pallets under deck capacity, 1100 lane meters) will return to Samsun already by 09/10. Another performing RoRo vessel will be deployed by middle of October.

Russian carriers acknowledged a support of Russian Authorities given market dynamics.

Not surprisingly, Russian retailers continuously appear at Turkish export markets, thus more often buying service packages from a national carrier.

“Customer is a King”, declared carriers with a hope to deliver the best of their services to Turkish fruit/vegetables exporters.

[mappress]

C-Shipping, October 11, 2013