VESSEL REVIEW | Mikhail Devyatayev – New hydrofoil ferry to operate in Russia’s Tatarstan Republic

The Government of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia's Volga Federal District will soon begin operational sailings of a new fast hydrofoil ferry built by local company Zelenodolsk Shipyard to a design by naval architecture firm Sea-Tech.

Mikhail Devyatayev honours the late Mikhail Petrovich Devyatayev, a Soviet fighter pilot and former prisoner of war who was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union decoration for his actions during the Second World War. The vessel is one of the first to be completed under the Project 03830 or Meteor-2020 series of hydrofoil commuter ferries, which are also the newest variants of the Meteor hydrofoil ferries that were introduced in Russia in the 1960s.

As with its other sisters under the Project 03830 series, Mikhail Devyatayev has a length of 36 metres, a beam of 11 metres, a draught of two metres, capacity for 124 passengers and seven crewmembers, and a hydrofoil design that allows operation in wave heights of up to two metres even at speeds approaching 40 knots. The design also permits navigation in shallow waters such as rivers in or near cities and even in coastal waters near beaches.

A flight control system has self-stabilising features that ensure improved seaworthiness and reduced load when accelerating.

The main cabin has 122 airliner-type reclining seats and luggage racks as well as spaces for passengers with limited mobility. This area of the ferry also boasts multimedia entertainment systems, wifi connectivity, climate control panels, and charging ports for mobile devices.

Other facilities include a two-cabin extended rest area for the crew, a mess, a galley, a refreshments kiosk, a luggage compartment, and an outdoor aft deck. The interior spaces are laid out to help ensure comfort even during long voyages lasting eight hours.

Some of our readers have expressed disquiet at our publication of reviews and articles describing new vessels from Russia. We at Baird Maritime can understand and sympathise with those views. However, despite the behaviour of the country's leaders, we believe that the maritime world needs to learn of the latest developments in vessel design and construction there.

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