RF Transport Minister: waterways of Saint-Petersburg can obtain a status of regional waterways in navigation season of 2018 (photo)

When speaking at the meeting of Saint-Petersburg Government’s Marine Board on 19 September 2017, RF Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov reminded about the Federal Law allowing for establishing regional inland water ways, says press center of Saint-Petersburg Government. “RF Transport Ministry is completing the work on by-laws. As early as the navigation season of 2018, upon application of … Saint-Petersburg Governor, such rivers as Fontanka, Moika etc. can obtain a status of regional waterways with financing from the Saint-Petersburg budget and operation by Saint-Petersburg Government,” he said.

The agenda of the meeting held in the framework of the NEVA 2017 included the issue of passenger high-speed hydrofoil crafts of the new generation and their operation in Saint-Petersburg. According to Igor Albin, Deputy Governor of Saint-Petersburg, average age of the fleet of sightseeing and leisure boats operating in Saint-Petersburg is 5 to 10 years. There is no deficit and this fleet is being permanently renovated. As for high-speed ships deployed for transport routes, their age exceeds 26 years. “Renovation of the aging high-speed fleet is a priority for Saint-Petersburg”, he said.

New high-speed ship for 45 passengers, Valdai-45R, designed by Alexeev’s Hydrofoil Design Bureau, will be launched on 28 September 2017. Two vessels of this type are recommended for testing during the World Cup 2018. The city is also recommended to look into using a new boat for emergency medical care at inland water ways within the city and Cyclone 250М, a high-speed craft for 350 passengers, that can link Saint-Petersburg with Kaliningrad and other ports of the Baltic Sea.

Krylov State Research Center, in its turn, presented a design of a high-speed ship Sokol M with an engine designed by Zvezda OJSC (Saint-Petersburg) specially for the project.

The meeting agenda also included the prospects for the development of sea passenger infrastructure in Saint-Petersburg. As of today, it numbers five facilities with international checkpoints. All of them require repair and modernization.