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Gomel shipyard set to build first floating hotel in Belarus

Specialists of national unitary enterprise Belsudoproyekt (Gomel) came up with a project to build the first ever floating Belarusian hotel for tourists, enterprise director Georgiy Polischuk told BelTA. The initial hotel design developed by Minsk architects looked as a European cruise ship. However, the project customer – the Transport and Communication Ministry --- okayed another variant. The vessel will look like a Russian bark decorated to the tune of ancient Slavonic and Varangian traditions. It will be over 75 metres long. The hotel will offer several suites, a sauna, a bar, and restrooms where 20 people can rest. Besides, a 10-people strong service crew will cater for the passengers. The vessel will cruise on waterways of Gomel and Brest regions. According to Georgiy Polischuk, to create the floating hotel, they plan to refit unused barges. To rebuild one such barge costs Br 800 million. Investments are needed to fully implement the project, noted the specialist.