The sixth in the series of ST-192 factory trawlers built for the Russian Fishery Company has taken place at the Admiralty Shipyard in St Petersburg.
‘We are raising the Russian Federation’s national flag on the sixth fishing trawler built by Admiralty Shipyards for the Russian Fishing Company under the investment quota mechanism. For us, as the customer, the delivery of each vessel is a great celebration. But today is a day of particular pride,’ said Saveliy Karpushin, chairman of the RFC board.
‘This supertrawler creates 150 safe, highly productive, and well-paid jobs, a modern fish production facility, and contributes to providing Russians with high-quality fish.’
Mekhanik Shcherbakov is the sixth in a series of nine vessels – in addition to the first built to this design, which was delivered by a Turkish shipbuilder. The nine Russian-built vessels are built under the State investment quotas initiative. These high-capacity, high-efficiency trawlers replace the company’s older fleet of Soviet-era trawlers that are being taken out of service.
Like its sister vessels, Mekhanik Shcherbakov is designed to fish for pollock and herring in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea. The processing facility enables waste-free processing, and production of a wide range of pollock and herring products, including fillets, minced meat, and surimi. The vessel is designed to handle more than 60,000 tons of pollock annually.
Mekhanik Shcherbakov’s keel was laid in September 2021. By early 2022, the build had already hit difficulties as numerous suppliers declined to provide equipment as sanctions took hold in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to the yard, thanks to the dedicated work of the Admiralty staff, the vessel has not only been completed, but improved.
