The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade has called an open tender for the best engineering design of a prototype cargo hovercraft that can operate on the Arctic shelf, RIA Novosti reports, citing the state purchases website. The contract's starting (maximum) price is 220 million rubles.

According to the website, the winning contractor is to develop a GASVP-Yamburg-type hovercraft with a cargo capacity of 60 metric tons by November 25, 2017 and submit the engineering plans of the prototype.

The ministry lists high-priority transport goals in the Arctic region that include the all-season delivery of supplies to ice-resistant platforms on the continental shelf, primarily gas-drilling rigs in the Gulf of Ob, freight deliveries via various size rivers and in coastal sea regions, and unloading freight from supply ships anchored at roadsteads.

Bidders need to register by August 11.