August 17 - Ukraine's Pallada Kherson state-owned plant has initiated the design of an environmentally friendly towboat with a ferro-concrete hull, reports Interfax-Ukraine.
The vessel will be designed as part of a revival of Ukrainian river transportation and will feature a carrying capacity of 1,000 tonnes. It will be able to transport mineral and construction freight, agricultural products, and heavy cargo.
Speaking with Interfax-Ukraine, the shipyard, which specialises in building next generation composite floating dry docks, said: "Shipbuilding concrete based on sulphate resistant ordinary Portland cement will be used for the hull of the boat.
"When ferro-concrete facilities are built and used, no expensive protective paint-and-lacquer coating is used, and the Pallada-made towboats will be environment friendly."
