On January 14, the Ukrainian shipping company Ukrferri opened a regular ferry service on the Varna (Bulgaria) – Batumi (Georgia) route. The first voyage on the line was the ferry Vilnius under the Panama flag, which can simultaneously transport 50 universal railway cars and 50 TIR heavy-duty trucks. After a successful round trip, the ship is planned to be used on a weekly basis.
Before the launch of the route, Bulgarian media expressed concerns about the operation of the ship in the port of Varna, recalling its past technical problems. It was claimed that the maneuvers of the Vilnius could threaten the infrastructure of the ferry complex. However, representatives of the Bulgarian company Vart BG assured that the ship had passed all the necessary checks, and operation in the Varna complex complies with the standards.
The activation of sea transportation in this direction is not limited to the activities of Ukrferri. It was previously reported that the Georgian company uses the AIA port to transport wagons between the Bulgarian port and the Poti port in Georgia. E60 Shipping Line also announced plans to launch regular Varna-Poti-Varna services.
It is worth noting that interest in the routes between Bulgaria and Georgia has increased in recent years. In particular, in 2014, the Varna port delivered cargo from Bulgaria to Poti, bypassing problems on the Bulgarian-Turkish border. However, competition on these lines remains high, which leads to changes in routes and participants in transportation.
Ukrferry has previously attempted to restore the route between Chernomorsk and Batumi, but these plans have not yet been implemented. Nevertheless, the launch of the new Varna-Batumi route confirms the company’s intention to strengthen its position on the Black Sea, despite the increase in transportation costs due to increased insurance premiums and other expenses.