Port News

The classification of the state border checkpoint at Passenger port of Saint Petersburg is changed

On March 13th 2015 the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev has signed the Order No. 413-р on reclassification of the Russian Federation state border checkpoint at the “Passenger port of Saint Petersburg” seaport by type of international communication from passenger to freight and passenger.

The Government Order is the first stage of the long-term process of checkpoint reclassification at Passenger port of Saint Petersburg (hereinafter – the Port).

To create statutory conditions for receiving the first road train from a cargo and passenger ferry a range of activities still needs to be implemented:

• release of Rosgranitsa (Federal Agency for the Development of the State Border Facilities) order on reconstruction of the checkpoint based on terms of reference of state supervisory authorities
• develop the reconstruction project and have it approved by Glavgosekspertiza (Main State Expert Review Board)
• carry out construction and assembly operations related to the checkpoint reconstruction according to the approved project
• present the results of reconstruction to an interministerial commission
• release of Rosgranitsa order on the opening of the reconstructed checkpoint

The implementation of these activities requires at least two years, therefore the first passenger ferry with cargo road trains will arrive to the Port no earlier than the first quarter of 2017, effectively after the commissioning of the first stage of Western High-Speed Diameter (WHSD).

We believe that after the opening of the reconstructed checkpoint St. Peter Line ferries will switch from the city Sea Terminal to our Port, which will ensure comfortable and up-to-date conditions for ferry tourists and will reduce the existing load on the street and road network of Vasilyevsky Island, owing to better transport logistics for tourist vehicles and cargo road trains, and to the use of the central section of WHSD.

We can say with confidence that the decision of the Government of Russian Federation to change the Port checkpoint status is the next stage in developing maritime tourism, aimed at increasing the tourist potential of St. Petersburg – the sea capital of Russia.