The Okskaya Shipyard has launched Kapitan Dudnik, the second of three crabbers with onboard processing for the Russian Crab Group.
Designed to operate in the Sea of Okhotsk, the Bering Sea and the Sea of Japan, these Project 5712 vessels are built to fish under challenging conditions and represent a new generation of crabbing vessels with excellent seakeeping capabilities, double the processing capacity of older vessels with sophisticated control systems, and a higher level of working and living conditions for the crew.
One of the largest crab operators in Russia, the company has a current fleet of 39 vessels and quotas for 18,000 tonnes of various crab species in Far East waters. Since acquiring these substantial quotas in the early stages of these being auctioned, Russian Crab has embarked on a large-scale newbuild programme, with seven vivier crabbers at various stages of construction, plus three processor vessels.
Based on the outcome of the second stage auctions held in 2023 when an additional portfolio of quotas was acquired, the company expects to build six more crabbers by 2028, as well as a logistics centre in the Far East.
Last year Russian Crab increased its supply to the Chinese market by 71% compared to the previous year as 8600 tonnes of products were shipped to China.
‘With the increase in export flows to the East, the volume of Russian supplies of king crab and other species to China increased by 65%. Crab fishermen in the Northern Basin are now sending their catches to this market,’ said Alexander Sapozhnikov, general director of the Russian Crab Group.
‘Due to the high quality of its products, the Russian Crab Group continues to maintain a leading position on the Chinese market even in the face of seriously growing competition. Last year, the company accounted for 28% of Russian supplies of live crab to China.’
He added that the company’s products also went to markets in Russia, Japan, the Middle East, South Korea, and Mexico.
