A new hydrofoil ferry under construction has been launched at a shipyard in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia.
Andrey Baykov (Андрей Байков) belongs to the Project 03580 series of ferries designed and built by local company Alexeev's Hydrofoil Design Bureau for operation in small rivers.
The completed vessel will have an LOA of 35.8 metres, a beam of 9.3 metres, a maximum draught of 2.35 metres, a displacement of 67 tons at full load, and a crew of four. An integrated vessel control system that uses artificial intelligence will help ensure safe navigation.
Andrey Baykov will be powered by two diesel engines, allowing her to transport 120 passengers over 700 kilometres at speeds of up to 35 knots. The vessel can also achieve an operating endurance of 13 hours.
The hydrofoil ferry will be owned by State Transport Leasing Company and will be operated in Rostov region. Another vessel from the same series is already operating in Rostov and will be upgraded to permit both inland and coastal navigation.
