Russian Fishery Company to build six new super-trawlers

Russian Fishery Company has announced it will invest more than RUB 37 billion (USD 623 million, EUR 538 million) in the construction of six ST-192 super-trawlers to increase its catch – primarily of Alaska pollock and Pacific herring.

Building several new “super-trawlers” will help the Moscow-based firm increase the volume of its catch by between 150,000 and 200,000 tons, it said in a release.

“Despite extensive modernization and major repairs of our trawlers, we are well aware of the need to replace ships with new, with an appropriate ice class, increased productivity and the highest quality of products,” Fedor Kirsanov, RFC deputy general director and head of the new vessels construction program, said. “Accordingly, we plan to install the latest equipment on the ships, which will allow us to process fish and seafood efficiently, obtaining a wide range of products of the highest quality, for supply to Russia and to foreign market[s]."

The new boats will be built by Admiralty Shipyards JSC, part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation. The construction of the first super-trawler will be complete in three years, RFC said in its release.

Currently, RFC’s fleet consists of 12 large-capacity trawlers, two transport vessels and two refrigerated cargo ships, or reefers.

“In the long term – five to seven years – we will be able to radically upgrade our fleet,” Kirsanov said.