SOCHI, January 22. /TASS/. All the passengers of the Astoria Grande cruise ship were brought back to Russia by air after the vessel delay in a Turkish port due to a severe storm, Miray Cruises, the ship owner, told TASS.

"Passengers of the Astoria Grande cruise liner were safety delivered to Sochi from Istanbul by specially arranged flights. The decision to send tourists by air was made in view of a significant delay of the liner’s departure from the port of Amasra after a minor incident during mooring operations in conditions of a storm," the company said.

Tourist groups had traveled to the Istanbul international airport by buses and then they were carried by charter flights, Miray Cruises said.

On January 18, the Astoria Grande cruise ship with Russian tourists on board made contact with the fender protection device of the Amasra port berth in view of adverse weather conditions and the strong gusting wind. The master decided to continue berthing only in case of weather improved. The vessel berthed on January 19 but the decision was made to deliver tourists to Sochi by air in view of time losses due to the adverse weather.