She was built as a unit of Project 588 by the VEB Mathias Thesen Werft, Wismar, East Germany for the Russian Government, as a large inland passenger vessel.
Altogether 49 ships were built in Project 588.
A total of 49 ships were built by this yard, all for Russian account.
Launched under the name KAVKAZ, later renamed in KOSMONAVT GAGARIN, when renamed unknown.
Displacement fully loaded 1.506 tons, dim. 95.8 x 14.3 x 2.4m. (draught), length bpp 90.0m.
Powered by three 6NVD48 diesel engines, each 400hp., speed 25.5 km.
Passenger accommodation for 339 passengers, crew 72.
Cargo capacity 145 tons.
1957 delivered.
She was one of the second series which was larger as the first series.
Managed by the Volga Shipping Company, Nizhniy Novgorod.
Modernization in the class took place; by making bigger cabins, and cargo compartment refitted in a cinema or extra cabins, when this took place by the KOSMONAVT GAGARIN is unknown.
2008 Is she in use by the West Siberian Shipping Company, Novosibirsk, but can not find a web-site of this company.
On Russia 1980 6k sg 5144.
Source: http://www.riverships.ru/english/specs/?grp=588