The Russian state flag-raising solemn ceremony was held on Russia’s first dual-fuel ferry Marshal Rokossovsky with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin participating via videoconference.

The event took place at the road and railway ferry complex in the seaport of Ust-Luga. Vitaly Savelyev, Minister of Transport of Russia, Oleg Belozerov, Russian Railways JSC CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board, Anton Alikhanov, Governor of the Kaliningrad Region, and Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad Region, also took part in the ceremony by videoconference.

The ceremony was attended by FSUE “Rosmorport" General Director Sergey Pulin, Deputy General Director for Fleet Vasily Strugov, ferry captain Alexander Vangonen.

“Already today this modern vessel will sail off to the Kaliningrad Region carrying essential goods for its residents, as well as construction materials and other cargo for the key sectors of the region’s economy. The overall volume of cargo transportation on the Ust-Luga – Baltiysk line will increase more than 1.5 times, up to two million tons per year,” Vladimir Putin said.

“Thanks to the maritime transport of this class, we can guarantee permanent reliable connection between the western outpost of Russia and the rest of the country,” Russian President added.

Vladimir Putin also thanked all those who participated in this important transport project with advanced technical and eco-friendly solutions.

Vitaly Savelyev, in his turn, said that the loading speed of the new ferry will be faster than on existing ferries - up to 5 hours instead of 20 - and noted that the ferry will be used in the autonomous ship navigation project in the future. 

At the end of the ceremonial part, the first rolling of cars onto the ferry started, and then the Marshal Rokossovsky enters the Ust-Luga - Baltiysk line, which is strategically important for Russia.

Previously only two ferries, the Baltiysk and the Ambal, were operating on the line. By the end of 2022 the fleet engaged in the Ust-Luga – Baltiysk line will receive another vessel, the General Chernyakhovsky ferry, which is currently being under construction by order of FSUE "Rosmorport".

The Marshal Rokossovsky was built by order and at the expense of FSUE "Rosmorport". The construction was carried out by The Nevsky Shipyard LLC (part of The United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC) in cooperation with the Turkish shipyard The Kuzey Star Shipyard.

The ferry successfully completed its raid from the construction plant to the home port, including being tested in ice conditions. All systems and mechanisms of the ferry are technically sound. The ferry is ready to work on the line.

The Marshal Rokossovsky ferry with Arc4 ice reinforcement is equipped with dual-fuel diesel propulsion unit, two adjustable pitch propellers, stern and two bow thrusters, two semi-propeller rudders, which provide reliable controllability during operation, as well as safe maneuvering in narrow passages, mooring and unmooring of the vessel.

Thanks to the modern equipment of the ferry, the amount of automation, equipment in accordance with the rules and conventions, as well as comfortable living conditions, the crew can work on the vessel with confidence and efficiency.

Putting into operation of new eco-friendly ferries will make it possible to improve transport safety of the Kaliningrad Region, to redirect part of the cargo traffic which is currently going through the territories of neighboring countries to the territory of Russia, as well as to provide transportation of cargo required for domestic consumption.

The use of environmentally clean fuel will allow to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere by 20-30 %, nitrogen oxides – by over 90 %, sulfur oxides and carbon black – by 100 % compared to similar vessels running on traditional heavy fuel.

Both ferries for the Ust-Luga – Baltiysk line are named after prominent Soviet commanders: first was named after Konstantin Rokossovsky, twice named Hero of the USSR and the only marshal in the history of the Soviet Union of two countries, USSR and Poland, and the second was named after Ivan Chernyakhovsky, twice named Hero of the USSR, General of the Army.

The main purpose of the ferry:

The vessel is designed to carry Russian standard railway trains with a gauge of 1,520 mm, as well as other rolling cargoes, including dangerous goods, up to 30 refrigerated containers (20-foot).

Basic technical characteristics of the vessel: