The Seabridge ferry, which traveled from Trabzon, Turkey, to Sochi, has been undergoing inspections at the port for approximately eight hours. A passenger described the situation on November 7, stating, “They didn’t allow us to disembark; we are still waiting.” Divers inspected the vessel’s hull, while some passengers faced canceled flights to Russian cities.
The maritime route between Russia and Turkey resumed after a 14-year gap. The ferry arrived in Sochi around 10:00 on November 6 but was denied entry due to a lack of permission to access Russian territorial waters. Sochi’s port remained closed for military exercises until 12:00. By November 7, the ship finally received clearance to enter the port.
Sergey Turkmenyan, CEO of SVS Shipping, stated that passengers stranded for two days would receive free return tickets to Trabzon as compensation. The company also provided meals and lodging in cabins at its expense.
