huntress yacht salvage

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Abandoned Sydney to Hobart yacht salvaged from Tasmanian beach will be restored, owners say

Forty-foot yacht had been left to drift at sea after its rudder snapped and crew were rescued by water police

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The owners of a Sydney to Hobart yacht salvaged from a remote Tasmanian island after it was abandoned during the race have vowed to restore the vessel.

Huntress was recovered from Christmas Beach on Cape Barren Island in Bass Strait on Sunday, 11 days after it ran into trouble.

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The 40-foot yacht’s rudder was sheared off after it hit an object on 28 December about 80 nautical miles east of Flinders Island. The boat’s crew were rescued later in the day by water police.

Huntress, which was left to drift at sea before it beached last week, is now safely tied up in northern Tasmania .

“Receiving this news was simply a huge relief and the news we had been waiting to receive for several long days,” a post on the boat’s Instagram page stated.

“Moving forward we will be working with our insurer to plan Huntress’s repairs in restoring her to her former glory. This may take several months to complete but we cannot wait to get started!

“Finally, we wish to thank everyone for all the messages of support that we have received, it really has meant everything to us and has helped us keep going.”

After the salvage, the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania said the yacht should not have been removed from the beach, as it belonged to Indigenous people.

The ALCT chairman, Michael Mansell, said there was an Aboriginal law on Cape Barren Island, also known as truwana, preventing the yacht from being removed unless a portion of its value was paid or ownership was given to the Indigenous population.

“Physically the boat may have been taken from our land but our rights didn’t go with the boat,” Mansell said on Monday.

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“It may well be that the salvage guys, the owner and the insurance people were not aware of the Aboriginal right to ownership of any vessel that gets washed up on the shore.”

He said either a payment equal to one-third of the vessel’s value had to be paid or full ownership relinquished. The ALCT has reportedly sent a letter to the owners and insurers requesting a formal meeting.

Total Dive Solutions, a company involved in salvaging Huntress, said Indigenous representatives had provided “permission and local site knowledge” during the operation.

Huntress also failed to complete the Sydney to Hobart race in 2021 when it was forced to retire with mainsail damage.

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Sydney to Hobart yacht race competitor Huntress ashore on Christmas Beach.(Twitter: Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania)

Race to salvage Huntress after Hobart competitor beached on Cape Barren Island

By Monte Bovill and James Dunlevie – ABC News

A yacht abandoned during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race has washed ashore on one of Tasmania’s most remote beaches after drifting for a week, with concerns for the area’s culture and environmental significance.

The crew of Huntress, a 12-metre cruiser, enjoyed “36 hours of absolute champagne sailing” during the 77th Sydney to Hobart race before conditions changed dramatically.

“We had 12 hours of very testing conditions on Tuesday night that unfortunately resulted in the loss of our rudder at 0700hrs Wednesday. While surfing a wave at 20 knots (boat speed), we heard a loud thud,” the crew wrote in an Instagram post.

“It became obvious that the rudder had sheared off when we saw it floating away in the distance.”

With some of the eight on board experiencing seasickness and authorities informing them a “tow would be too dangerous”, the “extremely difficult and heart-wrenching decision” was made to “leave Huntress floundering 80 nautical miles (148 kilometres) offshore”, the team posted on social media.

The crew were then taken aboard a police vessel and transferred to Flinders Island, where they said a salvage operation was “already being planned for her safe transfer to mainland Tasmania” on December 29.

Since then, Huntress has been drifting off Tasmania’s north-east coast without navigation lights or transmission of an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal after the yacht’s batteries went flat.

It has now washed ashore on Christmas Beach on truwana/Cape Barren Island.

Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) first issued a warning to marine traffic on Tuesday, five days after the yacht was abandoned, alerting that Huntress was drifting 15 nautical miles off the Tasmanian mainland.

According to the MAST alert, an at-sea salvage attempt was due to take place — but before that could happen, the vessel had gone ashore.

In a now-deleted post, the boat’s owner said the team were “angry, devastated and at a complete loss as to how the hell it came to this, given she was floating around for a week now with ample opportunity to be towed to safety”.

Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania manager Rebecca Digney said there were serious concerns about the yacht breaking up.

“At the moment, the yacht appears to be intact, but we are concerned what should happen if that yacht were to break apart. It’s going to be hard to recover the vessel and keep it intact.”

She described Christmas Beach as a “very clean, pristine and remote place”.

“It’s an area frequented by the Aboriginal people that live on truwana/Cape Barren Island,” she said.

“The island is the only parcel of land in the whole of Tasmania to have a permanent, full-time Aboriginal population living on Aboriginal land.”

The area is only accessible by foot or by boat.

Salvage attempts will now be made at the weekend.

It is the second year Huntress has failed to finish the Sydney to Hobart.

In 2021, in its maiden race, Huntress retired from competition due to mainsail damage.

Click on the link below to see full ABC News report

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-06/sydney-to-hobart-huntress-beached-cape-barren-island/101830434

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Dispute after Sydney to Hobart yacht wrecked in Tasmania

Monday, January 9th, 2023

Written by: Marine Industry News

A salvage dispute has erupted over the ownership of a racing yacht that washed up in Tasmania, after local Indigenous rights groups claimed they are entitled to a third of the vessel’s value.

The yacht Huntress was abandoned at sea after being damaged during the 2022/3 Sydney to Hobart race. Water police were called to rescue the crew of the 40-foot yacht on 28 December 2022, after the vessel struck an unidentified object, which tore off a section of its rudder. Skipper Victoria Logan has told media she believes the object was most likely a sunfish .

Logan and her seven crewmates were safely rescued, and the yacht was cut loose and left to drift at sea. Overnight (8 January 2023), it was refloated by Total Dive Solutions and is reportedly being towed back to safe harbour in the Tamar River, in northern Tasmania, today.

But Michael Mansell, chair of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, says the insurance company should not have salvaged the yacht, because “any vessels wrecked or washed up on the shores of Aboriginal land belongs to Aborigines”.

@rshyr yacht Huntress was abandoned on 28 Dec off Ansons Bay & drifted north to wash ashore on Aboriginal Land She looks largely intact on Christmas Beach on truwana/Cape Barren Is We’re hoping salvage is swift, safe & successful as she poses a risk remote & pristine Country pic.twitter.com/z07f2TmxIx — Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (@ALCTlutruwita) January 5, 2023

Speaking to ABC News , he adds: “We do not give permission for the insurers to move the vessel Huntress ,” and implored that the vessel should not be removed until one-third of its value is paid, or the owners agree that Aborigines own the vessel.

Mansell points out that other vessels have been claimed under the old Indigenous sea law practice, which has been exercised in the area since the mid-1800s.

The salvage company reportedly sought permission to come to the island and would have been under the impression it was allowed to remove the boat. John Kavanagh from Pacific Maritime Lawyers told ABC he would be “surprised if there was any legal substance” to Mansell’s claims, adding: “The common law of salvage does not change the underlying title in the vessel.”

The council says it is now assessing its next steps, and will take further action if it believes it has a case.

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One response to “dispute after sydney to hobart yacht wrecked in tasmania”.

The last Tasmanian aboriginal died in late 1800’s as I understand it. So there is a difference between Tasmanian aboriginals and Aboriginals that live in Tasmania. This is either right or wrong so please comment.

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Tasmanian Aboriginal land council claims part ownership of washed-up Sydney to Hobart yacht

Michael mansell says the salvage company that recovered the boat may have been unaware of the aboriginal law they were contravening..

Damaged Sydney to Hobart yacht Huntress has been salvaged from truwana (Cape Barren Island).

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Huntress, salvaged Sydney to Hobart yacht, to be repaired after island beach ordeal, crews vows

The owners of a vessel which had to be abandoned during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race and salvaged from a remote beach say it is a "huge relief" to have the boat safely in harbour, days after it looked doomed.

Key points:

• After starting in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Boxing Day, Huntress lost a rudder, was abandoned before drifting on to a remote Tasmanian beach
• The yacht was salvaged on Sunday — but the local Aboriginal land council said it was entitled to a claim over the yacht for being on their land
• The crew say the boat, now in port in northern Tasmania, will be repaired

Last week, aerial images of Huntress washed ashore on a Tasmanian beach showed the boat stuck in sand, its mast broken.

Its location, on Christmas Beach on truwana/Cape Barren Island, off Tasmania''s north-east coast, added a degree of difficulty to the prospect of refloating the boat, as there was no road access.

If that wasn't enough, Huntress had lost its rudder before beaching, with one expert saying "a yacht with no steering is about as useless a boat as you can get".

Despite the challenges, Huntress was refloated on Sunday and is now "safely tied up in the Tamar", its crew said.

"Receiving this news was simply a huge relief and the news we had been waiting to receive for several long days," the crew posted on social media on Tuesday, thanking Total Dive Solutions and Total Marine Solutions for their work in getting the yacht off the beach in one piece.

"They worked carefully and tirelessly to minimise further damage and to ensure they succeeded in Huntress's salvage. We will forever be grateful!"

The crew of Huntress had reported "36 hours of absolute champagne sailing" during the 77th Sydney to Hobart race before conditions changed dramatically on the way to the finish line.

"We had 12 hours of very testing conditions on Tuesday night that unfortunately resulted in the loss of our rudder at 0700hrs Wednesday. While surfing a wave at 20 knots (boat speed), we heard a loud thud," the crew wrote in an Instagram post.

"It became obvious that the rudder had sheared off when we saw it floating away in the distance."

With some experiencing seasickness and authorities deciding a "tow would be too dangerous", the "heart-wrenching decision" was made to "leave Huntress floundering 80 nautical miles (148 kilometres) offshore", the team said.

The crew were then taken aboard a police vessel and transferred to Flinders Island, where they said a salvage operation was "already being planned for her safe transfer to mainland Tasmania" on December 29.

But that did not happen — with Huntress drifting off Tasmania's north-east coast without navigation lights or transmission of an identification signal due to the batteries going flat.

It then came ashore on Christmas Beach on truwana/Cape Barren Island, 282 kilometres from Hobart.

Aboriginal council claim on yacht

Following the successful salvage, Huntress became the subject of a claim by the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT), with chairman Michael Mansell stating the yacht should have not been removed because "any vessels wrecked or washed up on the shores of Aboriginal land belongs to Aborigines".

Mr Mansell said he was citing an old Aboriginal sea law practice that evolved from the time of the white settlement and has been practised on truwuna/Cape Barren since around 1820.

"The yacht cannot be removed from the island until one-third of its value is paid or the owners agree that Aborigines own the vessel."

With Huntress now in port in the Tamar River, the crew said it would be "working with our insurer to plan Huntress's repairs in restoring her to her former glory".

"This may take several months to complete but we cannot wait to get started!

"Finally, we wish to thank everyone for all the messages of support that we have received, it really has meant everything to us and has helped keep us going."

Huntress has competed in two Sydney to Hobart races — failing to finish in both due to equipment failure.

ALCT spokeswoman Rebecca Digney said a letter would be sent to the yacht's owners and insurers, requesting they meet representatives from both the land council and representatives from truwana/Cape Barren Island.

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Sydney-Hobart yacht washes up on island

A yacht abandoned at sea after suffering damage in the Sydney to Hobart race has washed up on a remote Tasmanian island, where a salvage mission will be attempted.

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Water police rescued the crew of Huntress on December 28 after the 40-foot vessel struck an unidentified object that sheared off part of its rudder.

The yacht was left to drift at sea and has washed up near Christmas Beach on Cape Barren Island in Bass Strait.

Marine and Safety Tasmania earlier this week issued an alert saying the yacht was 15 nautical miles off the state's northeast coast and salvage operations were expected to start on Wednesday.

It confirmed on Wednesday the yacht had beached on Cape Barren Island and salvage attempts would be made on Saturday.

A spokesman for Marine and Safety Tasmania said the salvage operation was a matter for the yacht's owners and insurers.

The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania posted images on social media of the vessel washed ashore.

"We're hoping salvage is swift, safe and successful as she poses a risk (to) remote and pristine country," the organisation said.

Huntress was forced to retire from the Sydney to Hobart race after setting off from the NSW capital on Boxing Day.

Skipper and owner Victoria Logan and her seven crewmates suffered a mishap 80 nautical miles east of Flinders Island on the morning of December 28.

She told AAP last week she was downstairs when the yacht's driver, her partner Brent, felt a thud through the steering as the vessel was riding a wave.

"The wheel got ripped out of his hand and the boat started breaching violently. It took a few minutes to work out, but we realised we lost steerage," she said.

"We realised the rudder had sheared off and we could see it floating next to the boat, off into the distance."

Logan said Huntress likely hit a sunfish. The yacht attempted the Sydney to Hobart in 2021 but failed to finish because of mainsail damage.

Logan has been contacted for comment.

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Salvaging stranded Sydney to Hobart yacht Huntress could be too big a job, experts warn

On remote Christmas Beach on Tasmania's truwana/Cape Barren Island, you would rarely see any evidence of human life.

The waves that crash on the pristine white sand would normally bring shells and seaweed.

But a string of dramatic events has meant a much-loved yacht now sits lonely and motionless on the beach.

There are still many unanswered questions in the story of the 12-metre cruiser Huntress.

Its crew made an "extremely difficult and heart-wrenching decision" to abandon it after it lost its rudder during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

It was then left to drift for a week before it washed ashore.

Why wasn't Huntress rescued at sea?

Passengers on a cruise ship have told the ABC they spotted the yacht as they were travelling from New Zealand to Melbourne on January 2.

The passengers said the cruise ship turned around and headed towards Huntress when there was no response from the yacht in case a rescue or assistance was required. 

Images and videos from onboard the ship show a ghostly Huntress appearing through fog and bobbing around in the waves. 

An alert issued by Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) said an at-sea salvage attempt was due to take place — but before that could happen, the vessel had gone ashore.

"MAST understands there was contact with a fisherman, but I'm not quite certain about that and why that didn't happen," said MAST's Peter Hopkins.

"Whether or not a rescue or a salvage could have been made earlier, that's one for the salvage company and the insurance to work out."

After being rescued and taken to Flinders Island, the crew said a salvage operation was "already being planned for her safe transfer to mainland Tasmania".

But just days later, in a now-deleted post, the boat's owner said the team were "angry, devastated and at a complete loss as to how the hell it came to this, given she was floating around for a week now with ample opportunity to be towed to safety".

Rod Chamberlain, who owns marine services company Hurricane Marine, said it "seemed strange" the vessel had not been able to be saved while still at sea, suggesting it may have been held up with the yacht's insurer.

"A salvor needs to be appointed by the insurance company," he said.

His company offers salvage services in similar incidents and said it was always going to be a tricky situation.

"A yacht without a rudder is one of the most difficult things to tow," he said.

"A yacht with no steering is about as useless a boat as you can get."

What happens now?

Images of the yacht show its mast has broken, but the hull appears to be intact.

But the clock is ticking on the salvage operation, with concerns growing that it could break apart.

Mr Hopkins described it as needing a "massive effort" to get it off the beach.

"It may have been easier to pick the boat up when it was in one piece when it was drifting around," he said.

"Now the boat has beached itself, it's going to be a lot bigger operation than just simply putting a tow line on the boat and towing it back to a mooring.

"The biggest threat is the boat filling up with sand and seawater and gradually breaking apart."

Mr Chamberlain agreed.

"Often you have to use excavators to help you in that situation, but that is not an option in this area due to its remoteness," he said.

He said the sooner it was saved, the better.

"The biggest danger with any vessel on a beach is that if the sea gets around it, they soon start to break up," he said.

"Often it can be too late, and you end up with a clean-up, which becomes messy and more expensive."

What's happening on the island?

Aboriginal sea rangers on the island were the first to report the yacht had washed ashore.

"It's a very important pristine piece of Aboriginal land, and we want the salvage to be successful, safe and quick as possible," said Vica Bayley from the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania.

"A modern yacht like this, full of fibreglass, plastics, stainless steel and, obviously, diesel fuel, is a completely different kettle of fish and poses a much more significant environmental risk to that part of the island."

A salvage attempt is expected to take place this weekend.

"If the boat does remain in one piece and they can get her off, then there won't be any problems," Mr Hopkins said.

"Let's just hope they do get the boat off in one piece. She's a lovely boat and I can understand the angst the crew and especially the owners are going through at the moment."

The ABC contacted the owner of Huntress and the insurer for comment.

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Sydney-Hobart yacht washes up on island

A yacht abandoned at sea after suffering damage in the Sydney to Hobart race has washed up on a remote Tasmanian island, where a salvage mission will be attempted.

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(min cost $ 0 )

Login or signup to continue reading

Water police rescued the crew of Huntress on December 28 after the 40-foot vessel struck an unidentified object that sheared off part of its rudder.

The yacht was left to drift at sea and has washed up near Christmas Beach on Cape Barren Island in Bass Strait.

Marine and Safety Tasmania earlier this week issued an alert saying the yacht was 15 nautical miles off the state's northeast coast and salvage operations were expected to start on Wednesday.

It confirmed on Wednesday the yacht had beached on Cape Barren Island and salvage attempts would be made on Saturday.

A spokesman for Marine and Safety Tasmania said the salvage operation was a matter for the yacht's owners and insurers.

The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania posted images on social media of the vessel washed ashore.

"We're hoping salvage is swift, safe and successful as she poses a risk (to) remote and pristine country," the organisation said.

Huntress was forced to retire from the Sydney to Hobart race after setting off from the NSW capital on Boxing Day.

Skipper and owner Victoria Logan and her seven crewmates suffered a mishap 80 nautical miles east of Flinders Island on the morning of December 28.

She told AAP last week she was downstairs when the yacht's driver, her partner Brent, felt a thud through the steering as the vessel was riding a wave.

"The wheel got ripped out of his hand and the boat started breaching violently. It took a few minutes to work out, but we realised we lost steerage," she said.

"We realised the rudder had sheared off and we could see it floating next to the boat, off into the distance."

Logan said Huntress likely hit a sunfish. The yacht attempted the Sydney to Hobart in 2021 but failed to finish because of mainsail damage.

Logan has been contacted for comment.

Australian Associated Press

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

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VESSEL REVIEW | Sinichka – Electric commuter boats designed for Russia’s Moskva River

A series of three new electric monohull commuter ferries have already begun operational sailings on the Moskva River in the Russian capital Moscow.

Built by Russian shipyard Emperium, sister vessels Sinichka , Filka , and Presnya – all named after rivers in Moscow – are being operated by the Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development (Moscow Deptrans). They are the first units of a planned fleet of 20 vessels that will serve the capital city and other nearby communities. The new ferry system will be the water transport system to be operated on the Moskva River in 16 years.

Each vessel has a welded aluminium hull, an LOA of 21 metres, a beam of 6.2 metres, a draught of only 1.4 metres, a displacement of 40 tonnes, and capacity for 80 passengers plus two crewmembers. Seating is available for 42 passengers on each ferry, and the main cabins are also fitted with USB charging ports, wifi connectivity, tables, toilets, and space for bicycles and scooters. The cabin layout can be rearranged to allow the operator to adjust the distances between the seats and to install armrests of varying widths.

An open upper deck is also accessible to passengers and is the only area on each ferry where smoking is allowed.

The ferries are all of modular construction with each ferry’s wheelhouse, main cabin, and other structural elements being built as complete, separate components. This enables the ferries to be easily dismantled for transport to anywhere in Russia by rail and then quickly re-assembled within seven days.

The ferries are also ice-capable. Recently completed operational trials on the Moskva showed that the vessels can also easily navigate under mild winter conditions with broken surface ice, though year-round operations are planned for the entire fleet.

The ferries are each fitted with 500kWh lithium iron phosphate battery packs that supply power to two 134kW motors. This configuration can deliver a maximum speed of 11.8 knots, a cruising speed of just under 10 knots, and a range of 150 kilometres.

Emperium said the transfer of rotation of electric motors to the propeller is carried out by direct drive. As a propulsion installation, a pulling rotary propeller-steering column with double screws is used. The installation of double pulling screws, with similar power, allows an operator to increase the efficiency of the propulsion system to deliver a slightly higher speed or to reduce energy consumption. This arrangement also provides the ferries with enhanced manoeuvrability necessary for navigating in close quarters.

The batteries themselves have projected service lives of 10 to 12 years and are fitted with safety features such as built-in fire extinguishers and gas vents. Quick-disconnect features allow the batteries to be easily removed for replacement or maintenance.

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.

Click here to read other news stories, features, opinion articles, and vessel reviews as part of this month’s Passenger Vessel Week.

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Tags: Emperium Filka Moscow Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development Moskva River Presnya Russia Sinichka WBW newbuild

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