Putyatin Island left stranded as ferry tender collapses for second time

Authorities in the closed town of Fokino have failed to find a company willing to provide sea transport services from the Danube to Putyatin Island. A tender announced in early April for transportation services received no bids from potential contractors, despite the need to begin operations within days. The question of how residents will maintain transport links remains unanswered.

The starting price of the contract was 23.7 million rubles, with a term running from May 1 to December 31, 2026. During this period, the carrier would be required to complete 980 trips—four per day, including weekends and holidays.

Under the contract terms, the provider must have two vessels of the "barge" type (or with equivalent specifications)—one primary and one backup. The main vessel must accommodate at least 30 passengers, while the reserve must hold at least nine. The "sea shuttle" must also be capable of transporting four passenger cars and one truck, with the ability to dock on undeveloped shorelines when necessary.

The contract further stipulates that the carrier must maintain clean passenger cabins and decks, prevent any malfunctions that could endanger passengers' health or property, and ensure that lighting, heating, and ventilation systems are fully operational. Life jackets for both children and adults must also be provided.

So far, no company has met these requirements. If Fokino's authorities lack a contingency plan, the island's residents may once again find themselves cut off from the mainland.

Transportation challenges for Putyatin Island are not new. As previously reported by PrimaMedia, the issue of the island's transport blockade gained public attention several years ago after locals released a video appeal. Regional Governor Oleg Kozhemyako intervened, instructing Fokino's administration and the regional Transport Ministry to establish reliable sea connections with the island and equip the pier with a waiting area. In December 2022, Deputy Transport Minister Grigory Plotnitsky was dismissed for failing to fulfill this directive.

The only private barge serving as the island's lifeline frequently broke down, underwent repairs, or refused to operate when the municipality fell behind on payments. The lack of regular transport links contributed to a tragedy in 2023, when a local resident died after being unable to receive timely medical care.

After the death of a woman, Russia's Investigative Committee opened a criminal negligence case against several officials in the administration of Fokino, a closed administrative-territorial entity, including its head, Alexander Baranov. Another troubling incident occurred in May 2024, when ferry service to Putyatin Island again faced disruptions, allegedly due to payment issues involving the local administration. At the governor's instruction, Deputy Prime Minister Lenar Nuriev and Transport Minister Alexey Ignatenko investigated the situation.

Yet transportation problems persisted. When the main vessel was taken in for maintenance, it was replaced by a smaller, far less comfortable one.

In March of this year, prosecutors inspected the ferry serving the route and found it lacked essential passenger safety equipment.