The ferry line is with the private partner and the use of the ferries “Geroi Shipki” and “Heroes of Plevna” on the balance of PJSC “Ukrzaliznytsia”, can be put into operation in 2018, said the Agency “Interfax-Ukraine” the Minister of infrastructure of Ukraine Volodymyr Omelyan after a meeting with business in the European business Association (EBA) on Thursday.

During the meeting he also said that for the year as approved by the concept of Ukraine and Georgia on establishment of a joint venture involving a private partner for the use of these ferries, which have run from the Black sea.

He added that Ukrzaliznytsia has repaired only one ferry and repairs second.

As earlier reported, the then head of “uz” Alexander Zavgorodniy was reported on balance of PAO ferries “Geroi Shipki” and “Heroes of Plevna”, which are leased by shipping company “Ukrferry” (Odessa ).

As noted in the November 2016, the head of “Ukrzaliznytsya” Wojciech Balczun, one of these two ferries can start work in January 2017. Before that a member of the Board of “Ukrzaliznytsya” Marek zalesny reported intention at the beginning of 2017 to produce on the line Odessa – Georgia referred to the ferry after repairs.

Later, in December of the same year, V. Balcon reported that Ukrzaliznytsia is studying the possibility of using “Heroes of SHIPKA” and “Heroes of Plevna” at the international ferry lines. According to him, the ferries are not registered on balance of PAO: formally, they are – on the balance of the state property Fund of Ukraine, but in hazledene “Ukrzaliznytsya”. In February-2017 V. Balcon announced the intention to transfer both the boat in bareboat Charter.

In may 2017, it became known that Azerbaijan Caspian shipping company does not preclude the purchase or lease of the railway ferry “Heroes of SHIPKA” and “Heroes of Plevna”.

According to the Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijani company Rauf Valiyev, the government of his country, it faced the task to develop cooperation with Ukraine in the early part of the project “TRANS-Caspian international transport route” (TKTM).