Working Conditions Aboard the Baltiysk

The 'Baltiysk' ferry has successfully departed from Ust-Luga, rejoining the Baltiysk-Ust-Luga route on June 16 following the settlement of its owner's debts. This comes as a relief, as two of the ferries servicing this critical route had been detained due to financial issues. Alongside the 'Baltiysk', the 'Peterburg' was also under arrest. Meanwhile, the third vessel, the 'Ambal', has finally completed its scheduled repairs, albeit three weeks behind schedule. The return of the 'Baltiysk' is expected to restore normal operations for travelers in the region.

In a significant maritime development, the ferry 'Baltiysk' was apprehended by Port Authorities in Ust-Luga upon its arrival from Baltiysk on June 9, 2018. The detention stems from the operator, Tans Exim Ltd., failing to resolve outstanding debts related to crew wages. Despite receiving two prior warnings, the company's failure to pay its crew led to this drastic measure. Tans Exim Ltd. is also associated with another ferry, 'Petersburg', which faced similar issues and was arrested in Tallinn for unpaid debts, including those owed to its crew. As a result of these ongoing financial disputes, operations for both ferries have been suspended, raising concerns over the treatment of seafarers and the financial practices within the maritime sector.

On December 27, 2016, at approximately 5:15 PM, the ferry 'Baltiysk' experienced a significant incident due to a cargo shift on its upper and main decks. This event was further complicated by the presence of two derailed oil cars loaded with fuel on the upper deck. At the time of the incident, the vessel was moored at Baltiysk Anchorage, located in the Kaliningrad Region, while it awaited pilotage to enter the port. The rough weather conditions contributed to the ship developing a starboard list as it was inadvertently swung around and positioned beam on to the swell, causing the cargo to shift dramatically. In response to the challenging circumstances, the 'Baltiysk' departed its anchorage at 7:30 PM, navigating out to sea to ride out the storm. After facing the tumultuous weather, the ferry successfully docked back in Baltiysk on the afternoon of December 29.