The Russian state flag-raising ceremony was held in the seaport of Kaliningrad (Baltiysk) on the General Chernyakhovsky ferry, the second of a series of new dual-fuel ferries.

The event took place at the road and railway ferry complex of Baltiysk, the seaport of Kaliningrad. Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin and Minister of Transport of Russia Vitaly Saveliev delivered video messages dedicated to the commissioning of a new high-tech vessel during the ceremony.

The ceremony was also attended by Head of Rosmorrechflot Zakhary Dzhioev, Governor of the Kaliningrad Region Anton Alikhanov, General Director of FSUE “Rosmorport” Sergey Pylin.

The General Chernyakhovsky ferry was built by The Nevsky Shipyard LLC (part of The United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC) in cooperation with the Turkish shipyard The Kuzey Star Shipyard. The vessel successfully completed its raid from the construction plant to the home port and is ready to work on the sea line.

The construction of a new two-fuel ferry was commissioned by FSUE “Rosmorport” as part of The Social and Economic Development of the Kaliningrad Region state program of the Russian Federation. The vessel became the second of a series of new eco–ferries designed to ensure stable transport communication of the westernmost region, the Kaliningrad Region, with the main territory of Russia. The first ferry of the series – the Marshal Rokossovsky vessel – had the Russian national flag-raising ceremony in March this year with the participation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

As Mikhail Mishustin emphasized in his speech, the expansion of the fleet makes it possible to significantly increase transport capabilities on the Seaport of Ust-Luga – Seaport of Kaliningrad line. Each of the new vessels can perform up to 7 round voyages per month. At the same time, their cargo capacity is sufficient for simultaneous transportation of up to 80 railway cars and another 15 heavy trucks.

“Ensuring the transport accessibility of the Kaliningrad Region is one of the priorities of the Russian Government. And sea transportation is an important element for the reliable solution of this strategic task. The updated fleet is guaranteed to provide the possibility of delivering all extra volumes that will be redirected from land routes due to sanctions restrictions,” Prime Minister of Russia added.

The new ferries have an Arc4 ice class, which assumes independent operation in ice up to 0.6 m thick, and comply with all modern environmental safety standards. A power plant using liquefied natural gas or diesel fuel with a low sulfur content allows to reduce exhaust emissions into the environment. Ballast water treatment facilities are also provided on the vessels.

As Vitaly Saveliev emphasized, the General Chernyakhovsky vessel together with the Marshal Rokossovsky ferry will strengthen the sea transport bridge connecting the Kaliningrad Region with the rest of Russia.

“The new ferry is reliable and high-tech, built according to the latest standards. And, importantly, it is eco–friendly - it works on liquefied natural gas as well. The ferry will provide comfortable working and living conditions for the crew, and a high level of service for cargo owners,” the minister said.

Vitaly Saveliev congratulated everyone on the launch of the ferry and wished the vessel's crew a successful trouble-free operation.

“A lot depends on your daily work. I am sure that you will cope honorably with your important duties on the vessel that proudly sails under the national flag of the Russian Federation!” the minister concluded.

“Raising the flag on the General Chernyakhovsky ferry is a long–awaited, bright event for the entire population of our region,” said Anton Alikhanov, Governor of the Kaliningrad Region, addressing the participants of the event. “This is a powerful, modern, eco-friendly vessel that will seriously increase the carrying capacity of the fleet operating on the line. There is no doubt that it’s coming into operation will have a tangible result, first of all for our business, to which the state helps step by step to reduce logistics costs appearing because of the illegal restrictions on land transit imposed by our Lithuanian neighbors.”

The national flag-raising on the innovative eco-ferry was accompanied by the anthem of the Russian Federation performed by the orchestra of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. Later during the ceremony, employees of FSUE “Rosmorport” were awarded departmental awards for their professional achievements and great personal contribution to the construction of an innovative automobile and railway ferry. Gratitude of the Minister of Transport was announced to Deputy General Director for Fleet Vasily Strugov, Deputy Director for Fleet of the North-Western Basin Branch Sergei Bazarny, chief officer of the captain of the General Chernyakhovsky ferry Artyom Kurochkin, boatswain of the General Chernyakhovsky ferry Igor Smirnov, and master mechanic of the General Chernyakhovsky ferry Andrey Shepelev.

When the ceremonial part was over, the first rolling of vehicles onto the ferry began, after which the General Chernyakhovsky vessel will enter the Seaport of Ust-Luga – Seaport of Kaliningrad sea line.

Currently, 5 vessels operate on the Seaport of Ust-Luga – Seaport of Kaliningrad sea line: automobile and railway ferries Marshal Rokossovsky, Ambal and Baltiysk, multifunctional vessels with the ability to transport rolling cargoes URSA MAJOR and SPARTA.

The General Chernyakhovsky ferry will become the 11th vessel in the grouping of vessels providing transport accessibility of the Kaliningrad Region.

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The new eco-friendly ferries of the CNF19M project Marshal Rokossovsky and General Chernyakhovsky are designed to transport 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 (TEU).

The use of environmentally friendly fuel will reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere by 20-30 %, nitrogen oxides – by more than 90 %, sulfur oxides and soot – by 100 % compared to similar vessels using traditional “heavy” fuel.

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