November 14, 2023: on November 10, during a working trip to the city of Taganrog, Rostov Oblast Governor Vasily Golubev made a test voyage on a Valday 45P, which is a hydrofoil river boat.

"After thirty years, river passenger services in Rostov Oblast have almost been restored. Two vessels of the Valday class have already been purchased, the second one is to arrive before the end of the year. In 2024, they will be used as part of fixed-route transport system, primarily in the direction of Azov, Konstantinovsk, Semikarakorsk, Romanovskaya. We will be aimed at Volgodonsk and, in a mid-term perspective, Yeysk, Kerch, Yalta. It seems to me that this type of transport will be in demand by both our residents and our guests," said Vasily Golubev.


Rostov Oblast Government has recently bought two units of Valday 45P in order to provide residents with more public transport services. These boats were designed by Rostislav Alexeyev Central Design Bureau (Nizhny Novgorod Oblast) in 2023. The height of Valday 45P is 21 m. This watercraft accelerates to a speed of 65 km/h.

The regional civil fleet is to increase the number of its river ships during the next few years: one more Valday 45P and four Meteor 120P (a hydrofoil river boat that can seat 120 passengers) will be purchased in 2024, 2025, and 2026.