«NiNo» is a passenger electric vessel of the Fontanka 2.0 project, operating in Nizhny Novgorod on the Chkalovskaya Staircase — Strelka route since September 17, 2026. It was built at the Rechnaya shipyard in Saint Petersburg on commission from JSC «Vodokhod. Passenger Port».[1] The vessel's name refers to the official mascots of Nizhny Novgorod Region — the fawn NiNo and the woodpecker Gor.[1][2]

Technical specifications

The vessel is 21 meters long and 5.5 meters wide.[1] It is equipped with two electric motors; electric propulsion is virtually silent and produces no vibration. Operating an electric vessel significantly reduces harmful atmospheric emissions compared to conventional diesel-powered craft.[3][4][2] The average speed is approximately 10 km/h.[4] A single battery charge provides roughly 12 hours of continuous operation.[1][4] The vessel is equipped with an automated control system.[4] Most sources put its passenger capacity at 75,[1][5][2] while the Vremya N agency reports a capacity of 80 passengers.[6] On board there are an enclosed deck and an open deck, soft armchairs and chairs, and a modern cabin with air conditioning units.[1][5]

Route and Conditions of Carriage

The "The Chkalov Staircase — Strelka" route was officially inaugurated on September 17, 2026.[1][6] Travel time is 15–20 minutes; the vessel stops at each pier for 10 minutes to board and disembark passengers.[1][4] The first departure from the Chkalov Staircase is at 11:55, the last at 20:30; in the opposite direction, the first departure is at 12:35, the last at 19:55.[5] In September 2026, services ran at one-hour intervals; once a second vessel enters service, the interval is planned to be reduced to 30 minutes.[1][2] The one-way fare is 300 rubles; children under five travel free of charge.[1][5]

Opening and development plans

At the route's opening ceremony, speeches were given by Gleb Nikitin, Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region, Yuri Kulikov, General Director of JSC "Vodokhod. Passenger Port," and Rishat Bagautdinov, Director of the company "Vodokhod."[1][6] Sergey Yakovlev, Minister of Tourism and Crafts of Nizhny Novgorod Region, announced that a second pleasure vessel — "Gor," named after the woodpecker Gor — would be joining the route in the near future.[6] According to Kommersant, the second vessel is planned for launch in 2027.[5] Gleb Nikitin noted that Nizhny Novgorod Region remains the only region in the country with its own fleet of hydrofoil vessels, and that 60 cruise vessels operate in the city on a permanent basis.[4][6] With the opening of the next navigation season, a fast-charging station for electric vessels is planned to be installed at the pier.[4] In parallel, commissioned by Vodokhod and built at the Emperium shipyard in Leningrad Region, another electric vessel for Nizhny Novgorod was constructed — "Peterhof," of the "Moskva 2.0" project.[5][2]

Sources

  1. V gorode N — New river vessel "NiNo" presented in Nizhny Novgorod — photos and video
  2. Newsroom24 — In Nizhny Novgorod, electric vessel to connect the Chkalov Staircase and Strelka — Transport
  3. Otkryty Nizhny — Launch of electric vessel "NiNo" will reduce harmful atmospheric emissions compared to conventional diesel-powered vessels.
  4. nn.aif.ru — New electric vessel has set out on the route between Strelka and the Chkalov Staircase — AiF Nizhny Novgorod (archive)
  5. Kommersant (Volga Region) — Electric vessel "NiNo" of the "Fontanka 2.0" project launched in Nizhny Novgorod — Kommersant Nizhny Novgorod
  6. Vremya N — The "NiNo" vessel route has connected two riverbanks in Nizhny Novgorod