The diesel-electric ship "Captain Drabkin" was launched in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It is one of the oldest ferries in Kamchatka, operating continuously since 1971. The vessel underwent scheduled major repairs, which had to be extended due to serious wear and tear of the structures discovered during the work.
According to representatives of the State Unitary Enterprise of the Kamchatka Territory "Kamchattransflot", the scope of restoration work turned out to be much wider than originally planned: in addition to the planned work, it was necessary to replace the deck flooring and reconstruct the lower part of the superstructure. These measures became necessary due to the long-term operation of the vessel in harsh climates and high intensity of use.
Currently, the "Captain Drabkin" is undergoing work to center the propeller and intermediate shafts - a key stage in preparing for going to sea. After the completion of all tests and verification of life support systems and the chassis, the date of towing the vessel to the village of Ust-Kamchatsk will be determined.
Ships of project 618M were designed to serve small ports and coastal lines in the regions of the Far North and the Far East. Despite their age, they are reliable and adapted to work in ice of weak category.
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