The ferry arriving from Trabzon was denied entry to Russia’s Sochi port and, after waiting for more than two days, is now returning to Turkiye.

Axar.az reports that, citing the management of SVS Shipping LLC, the ferry waited for about two and a half days but was not granted permission to dock in Sochi, forcing it to return to Trabzon without disembarking passengers in Russia.

The Seabridge ferry departed from Trabzon on November 6, but was refused entry to Russia due to a lack of authorization and ongoing military exercises in the area. The Russian Tour Operators Association reported that the ferry carried around 20 passengers, most of whom were Russian citizens.

The Krasnodar regional administration stated that the launch of regular ferry services between Sochi and Trabzon would be premature because of unresolved security issues.

The ferry line between Sochi and Trabzon operated from 1993 to 2011, and its reopening had been planned for December 2024, though the plan has been postponed several times.