Passenger ferry Kaliningrad - St.Petersburg to be put into operation in 2003

A passenger ferry, connecting the Kaliningrad region, Russia's enclave in the Baltic, with St.Petersburg by-passing the Schengen zone, will be put into operation already in 2003, said Russian deputy transport minister Sergei Shamrai.

"The works have almost started," he said.

At first the ferry will be used mostly for passengers and to a certain degree for automobiles. "In future we will be increasing the capacities and continuing construction so as to bring the ferry to the level allowing to organize railway communication as well," Shamrai explained.

The ferry terminal will receive a part of the territory and water area of the Baltiysk naval base.