FESCO has redirected its FESCO Turkey Black Sea Service (FTBS) to St. Petersburg following the sinking of its containership Yanina in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Black Sea. The carrier has stopped calling at Novorossiysk as a result of the incident.
The first sailing on the revised route has already departed St. Petersburg, carrying Russian export cargoes to Ambarli and Izmit (Gebze) in Turkey. A second sailing is planned for mid-October.
FESCO said the new service will provide an alternative maritime connection between Russia and Turkey, allowing cargo to move in both directions amid heightened security concerns in the Black Sea. The company plans to operate regular sailings using several container vessels, depending on market demand.
The FTBS service traditionally connects Russia and Turkey, with FESCO’s service network covering Turkish ports including Ambarli and Gebze. The company has also developed rail and road connections from these gateways to destinations across Russia.
The move comes amid growing security risks for commercial shipping in the Black Sea, with several container vessels reportedly targeted in recent weeks. FESCO’s Yanina, a 962-TEU vessel, was struck by drones and subsequently sank while sailing in the Black Sea.