Russia's River Highways project accelerates with new high-speed vessels and modernized routes
Russia's River Highways project accelerates with new high-speed vessels and modernized routes
Russia's River Highways project accelerates with new high-speed vessels and modernized routes
Russia is pushing ahead with its River Highways project to boost passenger transport on its inland waterways. The initiative has strong support from the country’s leadership and aims to modernise routes and docks nationwide. Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin recently confirmed the project’s active rollout during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. He noted that passenger river transport is growing faster than freight shipping in the country.
The Alexeyev Central Hydrofoil Design Bureau is leading the effort. It has already delivered 19 Valdai 45R hydrofoils and four Meteor 120R models. These vessels now serve six Russian regions.
New-generation high-speed ships and ekranoplans are also part of the plan. Production is underway at shipyards in Nizhny Novgorod and Leningrad Oblast. Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev has held discussions with designers and company CEOs to shape the project’s direction. The River Highways project is set to expand passenger services and upgrade infrastructure across Russia. Its success will depend on the new fleet and improved waterway connections. The government is committed to its full implementation.