FIRST GOODS TRANSPORTED THROUGH "PORT KAVKAZ – POTI" FERRY LINK TO BE IMPORTED INTO ARMENIA WITHIN NEXT 10-15 DAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The first goods transported through the
Port Kavkaz – Poti ferry link will be imported into Armenia within the
next 10-15 days. Chairman of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
of Armenia Arsen Ghazarian said at the April 12 press conference that
the cargos will be transported by the ferry "Smak" that can carry 50
vans with the capacity of 60 tons. Although Reserve Capital company
(Switzerland) – the owner of the ferry will set the tariffs in the
next 1-2 weeks, according to A. Ghazarian, it is envisaged that the
tariff for transportation of each van will be reduced by 1,000-1,500
dollars or will be by 15-20% lower than tariffs of Ukrferry company
that carried out transportation previously. Besides, goods carried
by the "Smak" ferry will reach Armenia 10-15 days earlier than those
transported by Ukrferry company. (By the way, it was mentioned that
Reserve Capital offers to sell up to 49% of its shares to Armenian
companies).

A. Ghazarian said that the ferry will not work at its full capacity
in the next 6 months: it will make one trip weekly, then – in case
of necessity, two trips. In his words, the Port Kavkaz – Poti ferry
link will account for 80% of the annual commodity turnover of 1.5
million tons between Armenia and Russia.

Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the RA Ministry of
Transport and Communication Gagik Grigorian noted that the state did
not take any financial part in this program.

As regards automobile cargo transportation, it will not be done
through this ferry link but by the Novorossiysk – Burgas – Poti –
Novorossiysk route. G. Grigorian said that the ministry is now
conducting negotiations with the respective bodies of Russia and
Georgia with the aim of carrying out Armenian automobile cargo
transportation through the Novorossiysk – Poti ferry link and hiring
a ferryboat.