In December 2012 the Astrakhan Branch fleet was refilled with two new vessels - the Akvamarin multi-purpose boat, project MPB-14, and the Khivus-10 amphibian boat, project А8 g/n RAF 16086.

The Akvamarin boat continues the series of 6 MOB-14 vessels built by the Moscow Shipyard in 2012 for the needs of Azovo-Chrenomorsky Basin, Azov Basin, Arkhangelsk and Astrakhan branches of the enterprise designed for being used as multi-purpose crew boats.

In its turn the Khivus-10 amphibian boat supplied to the branch by the LLC Torgovy Dom Khivus company, as a result of an open tender, considering the operational experience of the branch is a unique multi-purpose small-sized vessel, which can move not only in water but on land. The amphibia boat was delivered in December, 2012 by autotransport to the Astrakhan seaport, where the company employees conducted final operational trials of the vessel.

The Khivus-10 boat will be used by the Astrakhan Branch for the following purposes:
- year-round delivery of staff, technical provision, food to the track sections of the navigational and hydrographic provision service located along the Volgo-Caspian sea canal а;
- delivery of staff and equipment for conducting technical maintenance of the radio technical posts of the Astrakhan and Olya seaportd VTS, and also GMDSS facilities;
- delivery of pilots from Astrakhan seaport to the branch pilot station and backwards;
- delivery of members of state committees and crews to vessels;
- evacuatioin of the ill from vessels and delivery of doctors to vessels.

For information:

The Khivus-10 amphibian boat represents a small-sized amphibian vessel with the rear arrangement of engine,  cruise propeller in the ring filling and  lift fans.

Main specifications of the vessel:

Vessel rank:	small-sized vessel;
Max length:	7,03 meters;
Max width:	2,48 meters;
Tonnage:	2,49 tons;
Draught:	0,2 meters;
Speed at water:	50 km/h;
on snow:	70 km/h
Power:	146 kWt;
Crew:	1 person;
Passenger capacity:	9 people.

The Akvamarin МРВ14 boat represents a vessels with hard chine hull, two engines, two corner rudder-propellers and coaxial propellers with fixed pitch, which enable high manoeuvrability of the boat . The vessel received the name after a mineral, the Latin name of which goes from aqua marina - sea water.

Main specifications of the vessel:

Vessel rank:	КМ*[1] HSC
Max length:	13.98 meters
Max width:	4,32 meters
Tonnage:	15 tons
Draught:	1,24 meters
Speed:	22 knots
Power:	484 кВт
Crew:	2 people
Passenger capacity:	6 people