On August 23, 2013, Vympel Shipyard (Rybinsk) held a solemn ceremony of laying down the lead high-speed passenger-carrying hydrofoil of project 23160 named Kpmeta -120М, says press center of RF Transport Ministry.
The ceremony was attended by RF Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov, Governor of the Yaroslavl region Sergey Yastrebov, representatives of the Federal Assembly and the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, heads of shipbuilding enterprises.
“After a pause of almost 20 years in construction of hydrofoils, the laying down and consequent serial production of new generation vessels at Vympel Shipyard is a milestone in the development of domestic shipbuilding. It will facilitate the development of passenger transportation,” Sokolov said.
He emphasized the demand for such vessels which are supposed to be used not only at rivers but also at the Black and Baltic Seas.
Within the framework of the Inland Water Transport sub-programme of the federal special-purpose programme Russia’s Transport System Development (2010-2020), Rosmorrechflot and Rosmorport will get over 40 tenders.
The vessel will be built according to a state-of-the-art design developed by the Central Bureau of Hydrofoil Design named after R.E. Alekseyev (Nizhni Novgorod).
An agreement on technical cooperation and collaborative activities was signed by the OJSC CBHD named after Alekseyev, OJSC Concern Morinformsystem-Agat and OJSC Vympel Shipyard in the presence of the Transport Minister.
Seagoing passenger-carrying hydrofoil Kometa 120M was created on the basis of Kometa, Kolhida and Katran projects. It is intended for passenger transportation in the coastal waters. The vessel’s service speed is 35 knots. The key difference of this state-of-the-art vessel from earlier built hydrofoils is the high level of passenger comfort with automatic system of stabilization. Roomy passengers’ cabins of business and economy classes are equipped with an air-conditioner and aircraft-grade chairs for 120 passengers. The vessel is fitted with advanced control/navigation/communication systems and has reduced fuel consumption owing to engines with electronic fuel injection produced by MTU (Germany) and water screws with enhanced performance.
Vympel Shipyard JSC is a fast-growth company building medium-tonnage and light sea- and inland waters vessels and boats intended both for naval and civil application.
For its more than 80-year history, till it’s foundation at 1930, VYMPEL Shipyard had produced more than 30 thousand ships of various types. During last 40 years more than 1800 boats has been delivered to customers in 29 countries of Europe, Middle East, South East Asia, Africa and South America.
Obtaining a wide range of production facilities and a highly skilled team Vympel produces new generation attack missile and patrol boats, fast search-and-rescue, fire-fighting, survey, fishery vessels, tugs and other crafts.