Poseidon-Express

From April 29, 2014, additional vessel, the Poseidon-Express will commence operation at Novorossiysk-Feodosia line, IAA PortNews was informed by the press center of RF Transport Ministry’s administrative department. The vessel is dedicated for transportation of cargo vehicles. She can carry up to 120 heavy trucks. Besides, up to 5 ferries (passenger, railway, automobile and passenger/vehicle ferry) will be chartered by May 15 for transportation to\from Crimea. “The measures taken will allow unloading of cargo flows and normalization of ferry links with Crimea in the nearest future,” the statement says.

The Poseidon Express was bought from Finnlines (the ferry's former name is Translubeca). She will be operated at the company's route Novorossiysk-Trabzon-Poti-Novorossiysk. The project operator is International Continental Marine LLC. The new ferry line will commence operating at the route as early as in December 2013. The project implementation is a significant part of the plans aimed by Paradise Cruise & Ferry at revival of shipping in Russian ports of the Black Sea, the statement says. The vessel will be deployed for linking the ports of Russia, Turkey and Georgia and for transportation of foreign trade Ro-Ro cargoes of Black Sea countries and nearby regions, Ukraine, Caucasus countries, Iran and Middle East.

The "Translubeca" on Sep 16, 2011, berthed at the Antwerp Euro Terminal NV to take on board a larger number of trucks and cars. According to unconfirmed information, they are destined for Libya. After the easing of sanctions, NATO countries such as France, Britain and Italy are assisting the new government of Libya. The terminal is part of the Grimaldi group from Italy and one of the largest hubs for vehicles from France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands to West Africa and the Mediterranean. The "Translubeca" was at the Lindo shipyard before and proceeded to Antwerp. On Sep 17 the vehicles were loaded and departedaround midnight destined for the former rebel stronghold Benghazi where the "Translubeca" is expected on 24 September to unload the cargo.