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Passenger navigation between Mariupol, Russian ports in the works — port director

It was noted that the port of Mariupol will be purely civilian

MARIUPOL, June 20. /TASS/. The option of entry of passenger ships to the port of Mariupol, Donetsk People’s Republic, is currently being examined, port administration director Pavel Shvatsky told TASS, adding that passenger navigation with Crimea and Novorossiysk may begin in 2023.

"The option of entry of passenger ships to the port of Mariupol is in the works. […] Should conditions and capabilities make it possible, passenger navigation from Mariupol to Russian cities could be possible in 2023," Shvatsky said.

He noted that the port of Mariupol will be purely civilian, adding that the military only help to de-mine it, and clear the pier and waters of sunk vessels.

"There used to be a passenger station; small passenger ships, like the ‘Comets’ travelled to Novorossiysk, Kerch. The option of passenger navigation to Crimea and Sevastopol is in the works," he said.

Earlier, Shvatsky told reporters that up to 1 million tonnes of products is expected to be shipped via the port before the end of this year. In 2023, the port expects to increase its load to 3 to 5 million tonnes, but the potential of the port is much bigger: it used to reach 17 million tonnes, and can be increased even further, up to 30 million tonnes.

On May 20, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov announced that Russian forces have completely liberated the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. The city gradually returns to normal life: some public transportation routes have been restored; city territory is being cleared; water and power supply are being restored.

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