Ferryman with food: how the Trabzon — Sochi route will work

The long—awaited launch of the Sea Bridge passenger ferry on the Trabzon- Sochi route was scheduled to take place today. However, due to adverse weather conditions in the Black Sea, the flight scheduled for October 29 was postponed. The ship's new departure is scheduled for November 5, with arrival in Sochi on November 6. In the future, the ferry will run on a regular schedule twice a week, and tickets can be purchased both on the spot at the ticket offices of seaports and online. For more information about the flight schedule, travel conditions and the cost of such a trip, see the Izvestia article.

Plans have changed again

The launch of a cargo and passenger ferry between Trabzon, Turkey, and Sochi, Russia, which was scheduled to take place on October 29, has been postponed again. This time, the reason was a strong storm in the Black Sea with a force of 5-6 points. The first flight was postponed for a week, and the ship will set sail on Wednesday, November 5.

After the launch, the ferry will run on a regular schedule twice a week — on Mondays and Thursdays. According to the plan, arrival in Sochi will take place at 9:00 a.m., and the return flight to Trabzon will depart at 20:00. Passengers' accommodation on board is included in the ticket price, which makes the trip as convenient as possible for those who plan overnight trips.

It should be recalled that the opening of the line between Sochi and Trabzon was planned back in the summer — from July 15 to July 20, 2025. However, due to the unpreparedness of the Sochi port, the dates were repeatedly postponed. Initially, the launch of the project was scheduled for December 2024, but it was postponed several times.

In the spring of 2025, the Southern Customs Administration declared full readiness to carry out all control procedures, but flights have not started. Among the reasons for the delays were difficult weather conditions in the Black Sea, the timing of the Ramadan holiday in Turkey, as well as a number of technical problems.

Seabridge Ferry: a bridge between Russia and Turkey

The Trabzon — Sochi— Trabzon route will be operated on the Seabridge ferry, which has proven itself to be a reliable and modern vessel. It underwent a complete renovation in 1991 and 2020, which guarantees its technical serviceability and comfort for passengers.

The ferry is designed to carry almost 450 passengers and 220 passenger cars. It is 120.5 meters long and 18.5 meters wide. According to the maritime classification, Seabridge is a nine-deck vessel, of which three decks are technical, and the rest are intended for passengers, transport and maintenance. The crew is international, which ensures a high level of service on board.

Seabridge is an all-weather vessel and is capable of withstanding storm conditions up to 6-7 points. However, for the convenience of passengers, operation is limited to storms of up to 5 points. Stabilizers are installed on board to reduce pitching, and the ship will remain in port only if there is a real threat to navigation.

The route between Sochi and Turkey has a long history. The last flight on it took place in 2011. From 1993 to 2011, up to five passenger ships operated on the line, which provided regular service between the Black Sea cities.

Schedule and logistics of the Trabzon line — Sochi"

The Seabridge (Trabzon – Sochi) route is scheduled to operate regularly twice a week — on Mondays and Thursdays. Departure from the port to Trabzon will be carried out at 21:00, and arrival in Sochi — the next morning at about 09:00. The return flight from Sochi to Trabzon will be operated according to the same schedule. Travel time is estimated at about 10-12 hours.

This schedule is designed to provide Russian tourists with a more convenient maritime alternative to the car route through Georgia, which requires a significant hook. Travelers will be able to leave Trabzon in the evening, arrive in Sochi early in the morning, spend a day or two there, and then return in the evening.

It is important to note that the sea route is much shorter than the automobile route. About 1,480 km have to be traveled by land between Trabzon and Sochi through the territory of Georgia. The sea length of the route is about 270 kilometers, which makes the trip faster and more comfortable.

On-board services and ticket prices

The Seabridge ferry offers passengers a wide range of onboard services. Among them there is a cafe, a disco bar, a duty—free shop, as well as a computer game room and other children's areas, which makes travel comfortable for both adults and children.

The cost of tickets will vary depending on the seat class: from 6,000 rubles per seat to 20,000 rubles per cabin. Transportation of cars will cost 30-35 thousand rubles, depending on the size of the vehicle. During the first stages of the launch, it is planned to carry only passengers.

After the launch of the regular service, tickets can be purchased at the ticket office of the marine station in Sochi, as well as at the ticket office in Trabzon, where Russian-speaking staff work. In addition, online ticket sales are planned.

Tourism potential

According to the widespread opinion of experts, the opportunity to get to Trabzon by ferry will be in demand by Russian tourists, especially taking into account the current restrictions.

According to experts, special attention will be paid to motorists, since Turkey is a fairly large country with a long coastline, and most tourists are familiar only with popular resorts. The sea route opens up the opportunity to explore lesser-known regions and plan trips more flexibly.

Sightseeing programs are provided for travelers traveling to Trabzon. The city has preserved monuments of Byzantine architecture, ancient city walls, and to the southeast of the city is the Orthodox monastery of Panagia Sumela, carved into the rock and dating from the end of the IV — beginning of the V century AD. Viewing these attractions will make the trip interesting not only for beach lovers, but also for connoisseurs of history and culture.