Russian yard launches new sightseeing catamaran

The Sredne Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant under Russia's state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation recently launched a new catamaran sightseeing vessel ordered by local shipowner State Transport Leasing Company (STLC).

Gabion belongs to the Project 04710 series of sightseeing catamarans designed by Russian marine engineering firm Forss Technology in compliance with Russian Maritime Register of Shipping rules. Bastion, the first vessel in the series, was handed over to STLC earlier this year.

The design work on the Project 04710 catamarans had also considered the sailing conditions in the Gulf of Finland, particularly the narrow channels and inner harbours situated between Saint Petersburg proper and the outlying island forts of Kronstadt, Kronshlot, and Imperator Aleksandr Pervyy.

Upon completion, Gabion will have a length of 27.3 metres, a beam of 7.5 metres, a draught of only 1.8 metres, a depth of 2.5 metres, a displacement of 70 tonnes, and space for up to 120 passengers and three crewmembers.

Passengers can be seated in the enclosed, air-conditioned main deck cabin and on an open-air upper deck, which would provide unobstructed views of the surroundings.

Two diesel engines each rated 220 kW will drive propellers via shaftlines to enable the vessel to reach a service speed of 11 knots and sail up to 400 nautical miles.