In 1925 a shipyard with a slipway was constructed in Djergalchak on the southern shore of Lake Issyk Kul and in 1926 the first ship was launched the PROGRESS OF KYRGYZSTAN. The Master shipbuilder was Korostelev.
She was built of Tien-Shan spruce (picea schrenkiana) and completed in 1927.
Passenger-cargo vessel of 250 tons.
Passenger accommodation, forty passengers in first and second class.
Powered by a Balinder type engine of 110 hp. which did run on compressed air carried on board in special containers. The engine was built by the Izhora plant in Kolpino near Leningrad (now St Petersburg) and was transported to the lake with great difficulties.
She transported on Lake Issyk Kul local produce and passengers. By good weather she could make the voyage from Rybachy to Przhevalsk (now Karakol) in 12-13 hours.
Her fate is not known by me.
2016 Kyrgyzstan 2016 50 Som sg?, scott? (The stamp shows her that smoke is coming from her funnel but a compressed air engine did not have boilers I believe?)
Source: Mr Gennadiy Sitnikov and internet.