Overview
- After more than two days at anchor off Sochi without permission to disembark, the Seabridge ferry returned to Trabzon on November 9.
- Two Turkish passengers left the vessel in Trabzon, while 18 Russian citizens remain onboard awaiting company-funded travel home.
- Liderline and SVC Shipping say they are purchasing air tickets for all passengers to their final destinations, with departures expected to begin as soon as November 11, mostly via Istanbul.
- Passengers were provided meals and temporary accommodation onboard during the wait, and the vessel had undergone inspection after being allowed into Russia’s internal waters, yet disembarkation did not follow.
- Authorities in Krasnodar Krai maintain that safety concerns block operations in Sochi, stalling plans to restart the route after a 14-year gap despite the operator’s claim the line is registered through 2027.