OSK Shipbuilders Prepare to Launch the Third Project 04580 Catamaran "Kotlin" - "Fort Alexander I"

The Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant (part of OSK) is actively preparing to launch the third catamaran of the Kotlin project. This new high-speed passenger vessel was named after one of the most beautiful forts of Kronstadt – "Fort Alexander I".

The fort was built in 1845 and became the first multi-tiered casemated fort in the Russian Empire. The main architectural features of the fort have been preserved to this day, making it a cultural heritage site. Today, this historical monument is being prepared for a new life as part of the "Island of Forts" project. Emergency and restoration work has already begun, and the next stage is museification. "Fort Alexander I" is often compared to the French fort "Boyard", but the Russian one is 20 years older than its foreign "colleague".

The shipping company "Neva-travel" is actively involved in the development of this project. It has already launched a new high-speed route connecting the center of St. Petersburg with the city of Kronstadt. New high-speed passenger catamarans of the Kotlin project were designed and are being built. Their length is 32 meters, and their width is 8.7 meters. Each of the catamaran's engines has a power of 882 kW, and the maximum speed reaches 31 knots.

The first two catamarans of the project were launched in the spring of 2023. They have already confirmed their outstanding characteristics in the test program and have been put into operation.

The construction of the Kotlin catamarans is carried out under the supervision of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. Vessels of this project have high speed and seaworthiness characteristics, and operation is permissible with a wave of more than 1.5m. The Kotlin catamarans are capable of passing under the low bridges of St. Petersburg. All of them are equipped with an open upper deck and panoramic lounges that can accommodate up to two hundred passengers.