PORT OF CAUCASUS, April 06. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Transport Ministry hopes that state regulation will reduce cargo transportation costs at the Strait of Kerch ferry crossing, Alexei Tsydenov, Russia’s deputy transport minister, told journalists on Saturday.
“The current tariffs of ferrying freight cars across the Strait of Kerch stand at about 6,000 roubles. I believe the tariffs will go down after revision because the present tariffs have been calculated with a view for smaller freight traffic flows,” Tsydenov said, adding that more freight traffic was bound to reduce transportation costs.
Tsydenov could not predict how much the tariffs could fall.
It’s going to be a through fare. “A consignor will pay the railway for rail haul while the railway will pay a regulated tariff for ferry crossing,” Tsydenov explained, adding the current rates of ferry crossing were contractual and unregulated.
“The government has ordered to establish long-term and clear tariffs for passenger and freight transportation,” the Russian deputy minister stressed.
“The calculated daily freight flow is estimated at about 560 freight cars judging from last year experience. We expect the freight flows to be approximately the same this year. At present, daily freight flows do not exceed a hundred freight cars,” the Russian deputy transport minister said.