The Astrakhan Branch of Russian port operator Rosmorport formally welcomed the dredging support vessel Aliot into service on Tuesday, September 29.
Designed by Flotproekt and built by Stroyliderplus in Russia’s Astrakhan region, the Project FPW1 vessel is expected to begin work on the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal shortly. The series is intended to support Rosmorport’s Project FPDG3 dredgers.
The Project FPW1 vessels will provide towing, pushing, buoy handling, and anchor handling services. The support craft can also carry cargo and personnel as well as deliver fuel and water to other vessels.
A crane on Aliot has a lifting capacity of 2.5 tonnes at an outreach of 10.5 metres. It will be used for buoy and anchor handling during dredging operations.
Aliot has a length of 24.5 metres and a beam of 9.5 metres, including the fender. Her maximum draught is 1.6 metres and her gross tonnage is 162. Her two main propulsion units are each rated at 330 kW.
The vessel has six crew berths and an endurance of seven days on her fuel stores.
Aliot was floated out in April and reported complete on September 2.
Beryl, the lead vessel in the FPW1 series, joined Rosmorport’s fleet in late 2025 and was working on the canal during 2026. The third vessel, Antares, remains under construction.