Russia fast-tracks River Highways to revolutionize inland water transport

Russia is accelerating its River Highways project to boost inland water transport. Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin confirmed the push during a meeting with President Putin. The initiative aims to expand routes, upgrade docks, and introduce modern high-speed vessels for passengers and cargo. Passenger river traffic is growing each year, with tourist routes leading the demand. Moscow has already launched full passenger services on its rivers and constructed a dedicated shipyard to support them. In Nizhny Novgorod, production of Meteor vessels is underway, while Leningrad Oblast hosts a shipyard for river passenger transport.

New-generation high-speed vessels and ekranoplans are proving popular for both passenger and cargo movement. The Alexeyv Central Hydrofoil Design Bureau has delivered 19 Valdai 45R hydrofoils and four Meteor 120R models, now operating across six regions. Recently, Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev visited the bureau and the Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard in Nizhny Novgorod, where he discussed the future of river transport with industry leaders Georgiy Antsev and Yevgeny Tsyplenkov.

Passenger services are developing faster than freight shipping. The River Highways project seeks to meet this growth by modernising infrastructure and expanding the fleet. The project will increase the number of river routes and improve dock facilities. Modern, high-speed vessels are set to enhance both passenger and cargo transport. This expansion reflects the rising importance of inland waterways in Russia’s transport network.