The Bashkir River Shipping Company captures an important field of activity in the transport complex of Bashkortostan. His main occupation is cruising and cruising flights along wide rivers: Ufa and Belaya.
The full name of the company is Bashkir River Shipping Company OJSC. Once a company rich in ships, it now serves only a few motor ships that are leased by tourist operators.
Shipping History
The history of shipping originates from August 11, 58 of the 19th century. At that time, two vessels approached Ufa (the “Fast” and the “Terrible”), which belonged to the merchant Zhuravlev. A year later, Olga and Askold navigators opened passenger traffic along the rivers. The latter went along the route Ufa - Kazan. In the 50s of the 20th century, the shipping company began to carry out water transportation for sightseeing purposes. Those who bought a ticket for the ship got the opportunity to see historical places, sights, cultural centers of Russia directly from the ship. Visitors could enjoy the cultural heritage of the rivers:
- Moscow;
- White;
- Kama;
- Volga;
- Don.
Travelers on ships became not only the Bashkirs, but also the inhabitants of the whole country. Cruises have become quite popular and in great demand. Tours began to be organized on the Hungarian vessels of Project 737 (Demyan Poor, Prishvin, Dzhambul). Cargo transportation on these ships took a decade.
In the recent 1963, the shipping company received the first ships equipped for passenger excursions (Vetluga and Chulym). By the mid-80s, the Hungarian steam vessels were finally replaced by new comfortable ships.
Placement on motor ships
All two-deck ships of the shipping company consist of a boat, main and middle deck. Luxury cabins are available on the main deck. Available single, double, triple and quadruple accommodation in superior rooms, which have a refrigerator, air conditioning, private shower and toilet.
Standard rooms on the middle deck are double to quadruple. The rooms have a washbasin, wardrobe, beds. Superior cabins have a TV, air conditioning and in-room amenities.
Shipping Company Profitability
The Bashkir River Shipping Company (Ufa) was engaged in three types of areas:
- excursions;
- Passenger Transportation;
- freight transportation.
Among these activities, river cruises were the most unprofitable. Therefore, in the late 90s, the shipping company management decided to lease their vessels to travel agencies. In 2003, the old Ufa - Moscow - Ufa line was closed, and new routes were introduced into the navigation.
2011 crash
In the summer of 2011, the Bulgaria steamer crashed near the village of Syukeyevo on the Volga River. Although the ship belonged to the Kama region, the situation still significantly worsened the situation of the Bashkir shipping company. A crew of 211 people crashed, and only 79 people managed to escape. Weather conditions (lightning wind) and improper steering, or maybe a malfunction of the vessel, led to an accident and a big tragedy. Subsequently, passengers began to be wary of river cruises. The demand for tours for the year decreased by 2.5 times. Thus, by 2013, 6 vessels ceased to operate:
- Musa Gareev;
- "Hero Yuri Gagarin";
- "V.M. Zaitsev" ;
- "Mullanur Vakhitov";
- "Alexander Golovachev";
- "Gabdulla Tukai".
But still 4 more ships remained afloat.
Functioning motor ships
Until 2015, the motor ship Salavat Yulaev functioned and was part of the Bashkir River Shipping Company. Cruises stopped at the end of the 15th year. In 2016, the only ship "Bashkortostan" came into operation from shipping. In the spring he was arrested, but the ship still went on cruises. By the end of the year, the Bashkir River Shipping Company was seized and the company actually left the cruise market. But to this day offers its boats for rent to travel companies.
The vessel of the Ufa shipping company "Vasily Chapaev" is functioning now, since it has been hired by the Infoflot travel company since 2004.
Unclaimed ships
Today, the vessels of Bashkir River Shipping Company are unemployed. These include:
- Bashkortostan;
- "V.M. Zaitsev";
- "Hero Yu. Gagarin";
- "Gabdulla Tukai";
- "Mullanur Vakhitov";
- "Hero Alexander Golovachev";
- Musa Gareev;
- "Salavat Yulaev";
- "Fedor Kibalnik."
Steamboats are in excellent working condition. Regarding their fate, two outcomes are possible: a sale or solvent tenants.
Sightseeing Tours
In general, river tours offered by the shipping company of Ufa have always been in demand by many travelers. Vouchers could be purchased not only on the official website, in travel agencies, but also on popular discount sites. For several tens of rubles, travelers have the opportunity to visit many cities of Russia, relax on board the ship, meet new people, get aesthetic pleasure from incredible landscapes, and also breathe in fresh river air.