In the Irkutsk Region of the Russian Federation, water transport is being restricted due to a gasoline shortage
The East Siberian River Shipping Company (VSRP) in the Irkutsk Region has announced that it is forced to reduce the number of regular and sightseeing river trips.
The main reason for this step is a critical fuel shortage in the region, which is forcing the company to revise its vessel schedules.
The shipping company’s administration is prioritizing the use of available fuel resources to ensure socially essential transportation services. Specifically, this includes subsidized routes and critically important ferry crossings for local residents.
Along with limiting the number of trips, the company has announced an increase in water transport ticket prices. Exact figures regarding fare adjustments have not yet been disclosed, but a price revision is inevitable due to economic conditions.
It is worth noting that VSRP’s annual passenger traffic volume is approximately 600,000 people, and its freight traffic volume is up to 2 million metric tons.
The company operates a network of 17 regular routes, with 11 branches throughout the Irkutsk Region and directly on Lake Baikal.
The crisis in the region escalated on June 28, when local authorities declared a state of heightened readiness due to an acute gasoline shortage.
Strict limits were imposed at Rosneft gas stations—no more than 50 liters of fuel per vehicle per day.
Authorities granted other gas stations in the region the authority to independently impose even stricter restrictions on fuel sales.
There is also a strict ban on filling gasoline into containers, and units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Russian Guard have been deployed to maintain order at gas stations.
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