VESSEL REVIEW | Iniya – Inland commuter and sightseeing boat for Russia’s Pskov Oblast region

Russia's Ushakov Shipyards has handed over a new passenger vessel to local shipowner Mashpromlizing for use as both a commuter ferry and a sightseeing boat.

The ferry has been named Iniya after a genus of freshwater dolphin native to the Amazon region of Brazil. It was designed by United Shipbuilding Corporation's (USC) Onega Research Design and Technology Bureau in compliance with Russian Classification Society rules that cover vessels capable of river and canal sailings.

Approximately 90 per cent local content was used in the ferry's construction.

Ample interior space with a reconfigurable layout

The vessel has a length of 24.8 metres (81.4 feet), a depth of 1.4 metres (4.6 feet), a draught of only 0.5 metre (1.6 feet), a displacement of 12 tonnes, and capacity for 54 passengers including individuals with wheelchairs. Dedicated storage spaces are available for luggage and lifejackets.

The vessel is of modular construction so that it can be easily disassembled, transported by road, and re-assembled on-site. The design allows for the loading and the unloading of passengers to be done via the bow even without the aid of dedicated shore infrastructure, though both sides and the stern may also be used for loading and unloading at adequately equipped jetties.

The vessel's open aft deck features weather-resistant railings for greater safety as well as space for additional seats for passengers.

The main cabin has two forward helm stations, a toilet, and a spacious layout with large windows to provide passengers with near-unobstructed views of the outside surroundings during the vessel's regular sailings. The cabin can also be modified to accommodate business class seating and tables if needed.

The propulsion system will enable the vessel to reach a cruising speed of 18.3 knots.

Utilising an already proven design

Iniya belongs to the Project 04860.1 series of ferries, which will be delivered and introduced into service at a rate of 10 to 15 units each year. The vessel will be operated in Pskov Oblast in the country's northwest.

Iniya shares some similarities to the earlier Sotaliya, another Onega-designed ferry that was handed over to another local operator in 2023. Although both vessels have shallow draughts and are of modular construction and similar appearance, the newer Iniya is slightly larger with nearly double the passenger capacity and a higher operating speed.