Lotos shipyard lays keel for Golden Ring paddle cruiser

Russia's Lotos Shipyard has conducted a keel-laying ceremony for a Project PKS 180 paddle cruiser at Narimanov in the Astrakhan region.

The 81.6-metre vessel of Golden Ring design (with 13.8-metre beam, 1.2-metre draught and 8.6-metre height) was ordered for Volgaservis by Goznak Leasing.

It was designed for safe sailing along shallow rivers, under bridges and visiting undeveloped beaches.

Powered by three 315kW diesel engines, the vessel will have a deepwater cruising speed of 10 knots.