Recently, the most popular news on the Internet was a moose wandering around Vilnius. The most observant noticed that the animal, having waded into the Neris River, had water up to its knees - and this was in the middle of the river. Vilnius residents were worried - how will ships that will serve as public transport navigate here?
Electric boats should soon ensure regular public transport on the Neris River. Until the boats set sail, Vilnius residents have even more questions. After seeing a moose whose water was only knee-deep in the middle of the river, they were worried - is it really a good idea to continue this project? After all, the water level may be... too low, and if there is a drought - then sailing on the even lower river will no longer be possible.
The municipality is reassuring – they have assessed the water level. Not only was the type of ship selected based on the water level, but also the routes being developed.
"The selected vessels are of the catamaran type, as this type ensures the smallest draft (up to 0,7 m) and is suitable for shallow waters. Vessels of this type are also energy efficient, maneuverable and fast," says Gabrielius Grubinskas, Vilnius city municipalities Media relations specialist.
A representative of the municipality assures that ships will not sail along a random route on the river - they would not be able to do so precisely because of the water level. They will sail along a fairway - a special section of the waterway. It will be safe to sail along it due to the absence of obstacles and sufficient water depth.
"The water level varies in different parts of the riverbed - at the bends of the river, one bank is eroded, while sediment accumulates on the other, and islands are also formed in some places," says a representative of the municipality.
The minimum water depth of the fairway is 0,75m, which should be sufficient for smooth sailing of the ship.
We remind you that the electric boats will be distinguished by their innovative design, which will be developed by the SIA "BIC" group of companies together with Dutch architects, high-quality seats and a comfortable common space on a deck covered by up to 70%. They will accommodate 30-40 passengers, travel at speeds of up to 25 km/h, and will be adapted for the disabled and cyclists. It is estimated that the trip along the full route Žirmūnai Beach-Business Triangle will take 45-55 minutes, depending on the river current.
Electric water transport to Vilnius public transport" system will be integrated in three stages. In the first stage, a transport connection will be created in 2025 Žirmūnas-Zvėrynas with 7 piers (stops). The boat trip will start from Žirmūnai Beach and end at the "Business Triangle" on Jasinskio St. with the option to extend the route from Žirmūnai Beach to Valakampiai Beach.
