MS Sergei Rachmaninov

Built as Novikov-Priboy, MS Rachmaninov is one of Russia’s signature “Project 302” river cruise ships.

Dmitriy Furmanov-class Russian river ships

The “Dmitriy Furmanov class” (also known as “Project 302”) consists of four series of Russian river cruise ships built in the GDR (Eastern Germany) for the USSR between 1983 and 1992. The vessel class is named after the Russian writer Dmitriy Andreyevich Furmanov (1891–1926), who also served as a Bolshevik commissar (Red Army officer).

A total of 27 units were built by VEB Elbewerft Boizenburg. They represent an upgraded and larger version of the earlier Project 301 (Vladimir Ilyich-class) riverboats. These ships operated across Northwestern USSR on the Volga River, Belomorkanal, Lake Onega, Volga–Don Canal, Kama and Amur rivers, as well as on the Dnieper River (Ukraine), the Black Sea (coastal itineraries), and the Yangtze River (China). After the USSR collapsed in 1991, all vessels were acquired by private companies (both Russian and foreign).

"Project 302" ship technology

Project 302 ships have the following characteristics:

• LOA length: 129 m (423 ft)
• Width: 17 m (55 ft)
• DWT: 3852 tons
• V-shaped hulls (varying by series in exterior elements, window design—rectangular or rounded—and wheelhouse headlights)
• 5 decks (4 passenger decks)
• Originally: 332-passenger capacity, 98 crew; all-outside cabins (1/2/3-berth); 2 restaurants (180 seats + 80 seats), Café Bar (79 seats, with dance floor), 2 bar lounges, Cinema (102 seats), Music Hall with bar (75 seats), Observation Lounge with bar (75 seats), sauna, souvenir shop, hair salon, massage room, library, first-aid room, and a 360-degree Promenade Deck (outdoor seating for 100, sports area)
• Powerplant: three 4-stroke marine diesel engines “Viertakt-Dieselmotor” (model 6ЧРН 36/45, also known as ЭГ70-5), each fitted with a turbocharger
• Propulsion: three bow thrusters
• Total power output: 2.2 MW
• Staterooms: single, double, and quad cabins (originally 1/2/3-berth), all with en-suite bathrooms
• After reconstruction: larger cabins (including suites) introduced; quads fitted with two upper wall-mounted Pullman beds
• All vessels were modernized, fully refurbished, and rebuilt for both domestic and international cruise operators. During their multi-million-dollar drydock refits, passenger capacity was significantly reduced to enhance comfort and safety.

Project 302 ships

Project 302 first series:

• Dmitriy Furmanov (1983, Дмитрий Фурманов)
• Akademik Viktor Glushkov (1983, now Igor Stravinsky / Игорь Стравинский)
• Novikov-Priboy (1983, now Sergei Rachmaninov)
• Aleksey Surkov (1984, now Viking Helgi)
• Konstantin Simonov (1984, Константин Симонов)
• Leonid Sobolev (1985, Леонид Соболев)
• Mikhail Sholokhov (1985, Михаил Шолохов)

Project 302 second series:

• Aleksey Vatchenko (1985, now Ivan Bunin)
• Yuriy Andropov (1986, Юрий Андропов)
• Zosima Shashkov (1986, Зосима Шашков)
• General Vatutin (1986, Генерал Ватутин)
• MS Russ (1987, Русь)
• MS Lenin (1987, Ленин)
• Sergey Kirov (1987, now Viking Truvor)
• Marshal Rybalko (1988, now Zirka Dnipra / Dnieper Princess)
• Marshal Koshevoy (1988, now Viking Akun)
• Georgy Chicherin (1988, Георгий Чичерин)
• Leonid Krasin (1989, Леонид Красин)
• Nikolay Bauman (1989, now Knyazhna Anastasia)
• General Lavrinenkov (1990, Генерал Лавриненков)
• Narkom Pakhomov (1990, now Viking Ingvar)

Project 302 third series:

• Gleb Krzhizhanovskiy (1990, Глеб Кржижановский)
• Maxim Litvinov (1991, Максим Литвинов)

Project 302 fourth (final) series:

• Taras Shevchenko (September 1991, now TG Shevchenko)
• Konstantin Stanyukovich (October 1991, now Princess Jeannie / Xian Ni), Regal China Cruises
• Arkadiy Gaydar (November 1991, now Princess Sheena / Xian Na), Regal China Cruises
• Aleksandr Grin (December 1991, now Princess Elaine / Xian Ting), Regal China Cruises
• Vladimir Vysotsky (planned; hull built in 1996, launched in 2003 as “Ocean Diva Original”)