The first passenger service by sea between Istanbul and Burgas, which will be operated by Turkish passenger catamarans, is scheduled to start in the week of October 7-13, reports the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).
The first passenger catamaran is scheduled to depart from Istanbul's Sarayburnu port for Burgas on October 11, the Istanbul Deniz Otobusleri (İDO) ferry company announced on its website. The catamaran will sail back from Burgas on October 12. It will be the first trial run and tickets have been bought mainly by Turkish citizens.
Catamarans in Turkiye are called "deniz otobusu", which translates as "sea bus". They have a capacity for about 400 people and come in two varieties - a passenger catamaran and a catamaran car ferry.
For now, only passenger catamarans will sail to Burgas. The cost of the trip will be EUR 60 in both directions, and the return trip will take place the following day. A total of six round trips are planned by the end of 2024, the company said.
The idea of a ferry service between Istanbul and Burgas has been on the minds of the mayors of the two cities for a long time (since 2005 Istanbul Deniz Otobusu has been subordinate to the Greater Istanbul Municipality - ed.n.). However, the COVID-19 epidemic has delayed the implementation of the project.
The key to this important project for the tourism and economy of Bulgaria and Turkiye is from next year the cruise ships calling in Istanbul to include Burgas and the region in their day trips. The catamarans of the Turkish company will be used for this purpose and the catamaran trips from Istanbul to Burgas and back will be included in the tourist packages of the Turkish and Bulgarian tour operators.
Turkiye has extensive experience in catamaran travel, the development of which began in 1995. They are particularly popular for travel to various destinations in Istanbul and also for intercity travel in the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean.
Dozens of ferry lines also connect Turkish ports with the Greek Aegean islands.
The first catamarans destined for the Turkish market were manufactured in Norway. Now Turkiye produces its own sea buses.
