Russian operator Neva Travel in talks over construction of additional catamaran ferries

Russian transport company Neva Travel and state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) have been conducting discussions regarding the possibility of continued manufacture of the Project 04580 series of catamaran ferries.

Yuri Nabatov, General Director of Neva Travel, said he hopes that USC's Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant will continue building the vessels, which may be operated both as commuter ferries and as tourist shuttles.

Production of Project 04580 ferries for use in the Black Sea Basin is already underway, according to Nabatov. If construction of additional ferries will proceed, these will be deployed along other routes served by Neva Travel.

The ferries will be capable of both inland and coastal sailings, as the design is optimised for operation in the waters in and around the city of Saint Petersburg as well as further out into the Gulf of Finland.

The Project 04580 catamarans are being operated by Neva Travel on behalf of shipowner State Transport Leasing Company. Design work is undertaken by local engineering firm Forss Technology in compliance with Russian Maritime Register of Shipping requirements.