New cross-Caspian ferry launched

An opening ceremony of a new ferry linking Russia's Caspian coast with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan was held Saturday in the city of Makhachkala, a regional capital of Dagestan, southeastern Russia.

RIA Novosti reports ferries will now run daily from Makhachkala to Turkmenbashi on the Turkmen shore of the Caspian Sea and from Makhachkala to Aktau, Kazakhstan.

The opening ceremony was attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, Transport Minister Sergei Frank, and Federal Border Service Director Konstantin Totsky.

The officials noted that the new ferry would not only have crucial economic significance, but could also be used to fight terrorism and poaching, if necessary. The Defense Minister was briefed on the ferry's capacity for transporting troops. The ferry boat could take in up to 200 personnel and up to 60 vehicles all in one go.