Lotos shipyard launches first paddle cruiser of Project PKS 180, Golden Ring

Astrakhan, Russia based Lotos shipyard (part of United Shipbuilding Corporation) launched the first paddle cruiser of Project PKS 180, Golden Ring, USC says in a press release.

The shipbuilding company is building two river going vessels under the subsidized leasing programme for passenger ships. The ship ordered by MASHPROMLEAZING JSC will be owned and operated by Volgaservis LLC (a company of Gama Group).

In his welcoming speech at the launching ceremony, Vladimir Prudyus, Deputy to the General Director of the Southern Center of Shipbuilding and Ship Repair, thanked the personnel of the shipyard, its contractors and customers for joint efforts and highlighted the construction of cruise ships for inland water ways as a new milestone of the entire industry.

Dmitry Galkin, General Director of Gama LLC highly praised the work of the shipyard’s team: “I hope that the second vessel in the series which is under construction today will be built with the same quality and the shipyard will continue the revival of the country’s passenger fleet”.

“Your work confirms that Russia is a great shipbuilding country”, said Nikolay Stetsyuk, Deputy Director of MASHPROMLEAZING JSC.

Key particulars of the ship: LOA – 81.6 m, BOA – 13.83 m, passengers - 180.

In 2018, Lotos shipyard laid down two paddle cruisers of Project PKS 180. With a draught of 1.2 and height of 8.6 m passenger ships of Golden Ring design are able to sail safely along shallow rivers and under bridges as well as to approach undeveloped beaches, that will let expand the geography of river cruises both in the European part of Russia and in Siberia/Far East regions.