A new Nile River cruise ship has been delivered while a Russian-built hydrofoil ferry has entered sea trials. A Russian shipbuilder has unveiled design images of a expedition vessel capable of Arctic navigation while an Italian yard has secured a repeat cruise ship order from an American owner. Lastly, another Russian builder has laid the keels of two new inland and coastal ferries.
A new hydrofoil ferry being built in Russia has begun undergoing sea trials.
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 has 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.
Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) has unveiled concept images of a new type of expedition cruise ship capable of operation in the Arctic.
The vessel will have an ice-reinforced hull, a length of 163 metres, a beam of 23.5 metres, and space for 292 guests and 192 crewmembers. The dual-fuel propulsion will permit operation on either LNG or low-sulphur diesel and will deliver a top speed of 17 knots and a range of 10,000 nautical miles.
Facilities will include cabins with balconies, a conference room, restaurants, a bar, a library, an observation lounge, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness centre, and a medical bay. A helicopter pad will also be fitted.
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and US-based cruise line Crystal Cruises have finalised a contract for the construction of a third ocean-going cruise ship, with delivery scheduled for May 2034.
The agreement follows an option exercised in 2024 and adds to two previously ordered sister vessels.
The first, Crystal Grace, is under construction at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard and is scheduled to enter service in 2028, while the second vessel is due for delivery in May 2031.
Russian shipbuilder Nefteflot has laid the keels of two new ferries in a series for operation in Russia's Samara Region.
The Project MPKS-L vessels will be slightly smaller variants of the earlier Project MPKS series of ferries. Like the ferries in the baseline series, the Project MPKS-L vessels will be capable of operation along inland and coastal waterways.
Although the Project MPKS-L ferries are around two metres shorter than their Project MPKS sisters, they have the earlier vessels' 2.75-metre depths, six-strong crew complements, and capacities for 240 passengers. The passengers will be accommodated in two enclosed cabins on the main and upper decks and an aft open area on the upper deck.
Viking Cruises has taken delivery of Viking Ptah, its newest Nile River cruise ship.
Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet, which were launched simultaneously earlier this year, belong to the same series as Viking Osiris, Viking Aton, Viking Hathor, Viking Sobek, and Viking Amun.
The newbuild has a length of 236 feet (71.9 metres), a beam of 92 feet (28 metres), a gross tonnage of 3,600, 41 outside staterooms distributed across three decks, and a crew complement of 48.
