Guest
I was enjoying the evening of a warm August day on the shore of the Khimki Reservoir, a large artificial lake that was created in 1937. The reservoir is a popular destination for recreation and water sports, as well as a vital source of water supply. I was watching the ships and boats that sailed on the reservoir, some of them carrying passengers, some of them carrying cargo, and some of them just enjoying the breeze and the sun. I liked to imagine the stories and the destinations of the people and the goods on board. One of the ships that caught my eye was the Sergey Dyagilev, a passenger river ship that was named after a famous Russian art critic and impresario. It was a modern and stylish ship, with a white hull and a blue stripe. It had four decks, each with large windows. I could see the people on board, some of them taking pictures, some of them chatting, and some of them relaxing. The Sergey Dyagilev had just gone on a cruise from Moscow, the capital of Russia and the largest city in Europe. It was heading to St. Petersburg, the former capital of Russia and the cultural center of the country. The cruise would last for eight days and cover more than 1,500 kilometers, passing by many historical and cultural sites along the way. The Sergey Dyagilev was passing against the backdrop of the Northern River Port of Moscow, a large port that was built in 1937 and served as a major hub for river transport and trade. The port was located on the left bank of the Moscow Canal, near the Leningradskoye Shosse bridge. The port had a capacity of 1.5 million tons of cargo and 75,000 passengers per year. It had 19 berths, 12 warehouses, and 8 cranes. I could see the work of the portal cranes in the port, lifting and loading the containers and the goods onto the ships and the trucks. The cranes were huge and impressive, with a height of 35 meters and a span of 50 meters. They could lift up to 20 tons of weight and move at a speed of 60 meters per minute. But the port is currently closed, the portal cranes have been dismantled. A new residential complex will soon be built on the site of the port. I felt a pang of nostalgia and sadness, as I realized that I was witnessing the end of an era. The port was a part of the history and the identity of Moscow, and it was hard to imagine the city without it. I wondered what would happen to the cranes, the ships, and the people who worked there. I hoped that they would find a new purpose and a new place. I also felt a sense of admiration and gratitude, as I realized that the port had played a significant role in the development and the prosperity of Moscow and Russia. The port had facilitated the movement of people and goods, the exchange of ideas and cultures, and the creation of art and science. The port had witnessed many events and changes, from the World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The port had been a witness and a participant of history. I waved goodbye to the Sergey Dyagilev, the ship that had left the port and continued its journey. I wished the people on board a safe and enjoyable trip. I also wished the port a peaceful and dignified farewell. I thanked the port for its service and its legacy. I took one last look at the port, the cranes, and the reservoir, and felt a surge of emotion. I had seen a glimpse of the past and the present, and I wondered what the future would bring. Shooting date: August 4, 2023. Location: Moscow, The Khimki Reservoir. m/s Sergey Dyagilev aka Rachmaninov Prestige Former Name: Novikov-Priboi Project: 302 Built in: 1984
