VESSEL REVIEW | Aurum – Riverboat with 180-guest capacity for Russia’s Golden Ring cruise route

Russia’s Lotos Shipyard recently handed over a new inland cruise ship to local company the Gama Group for operation by subsidiary Rechservis. Aurum is the second vessel to be built under the Project PKS-180 series of cruise ships that are designed by engineering firm META-COM in compliance with Russian River Register rules.

Able to access a greater number of areas

The vessel has an LOA of 81.6 metres (268 feet), a beam of 13.83 metres (45.37 feet), a draught of only 1.28 metres (4.2 feet), a depth of three metres (10 feet), a crew of 56, and capacity for 180 passengers across three decks. A low height of 8.6 metres (28 feet) will allow the vessel to easily pass underneath bridges. Computer-aided navigation systems will enable the vessel to also access areas that are lacking in port infrastructure.

The propulsion arrangement consists of three 315kW diesel generators that drive a rudder propeller and two electric motors connected to side-mounted paddle wheels. This configuration delivers service speeds of between 9.2 and 9.7 knots as well as a maximum endurance of 14 days. This arrangement also ensures 40 per cent lower fuel consumption compared to a similar-sized, shallow-draught vessel with a conventional rudder-and-propeller setup.

Broad selection of amenities

Guests have access to 68 double and three luxury cabins with balconies and whirlpools. The other onboard facilities include a solarium on the sun deck, a restaurant, two bars, a spa, a gym, a souvenir shop, a first aid station, and dedicated recreational areas for small children and teenaged guests.

Aurum will be operated along the Golden Ring 1,800-kilometre (1,100-mile) circular cruise route between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod via the Volga and Oka Rivers. The vessel will remain under the ownership of Mashpromlizing.