Vyborg Shipyard and Arkhangelsk Trawl Fleet ink an agreement for optional and modified ST series trawlers (photo)
In addition to shipbuilding contract for four freezing trawlers of new ST-116 XL series awarded to Vyborg Shipyard (part of Russian shipbuilding conglomerate USC) by Arkhangelsk Trawl Fleet in November 2016, the two parties on January 16, 2017 signed an agreement to update the previous contract specifications and optional ships, the shipbuilding company said Tuesday.
The modified Project ST-118 will feature 86 m x 17 m dimensions, Ice3 Class with an option to Arc4 class that will enable the trawler to extend the effective fishery season. The modified version series will have onboard automated plant for processing and production of fillets, fish meal installation, equipment for fish oil production, a canning plant and equipped with powerful deck cranes, the next generation trawl complex and automatic palletizing system in the hold minimizing the time to unload catches.
Modifying the ship's initial design dimensions will increase cargo holds capacity, provide some extra space for fish processing plant, to design a more spacious living superstructure for comfort accommodation of the crew.
The ST-118 design features versatility which enables shipbuilder to outfit the vessels to different requirements, with modified fishing and processing equipment which will allow the trawler to catch not only bottom fish, but also pelagic species, shrimp and other aquatic resources in the North and the Far East fishing basins and other areas of the World Ocean fishing.
In addition, the parties signed an agreement for 8 to 10 optional ships of the project ST-118 and its modifications intended for different regions.
The serial production of sister ships of one design and its modification allows the parties to achieve significant optimization of the cost and timing of the series construction due to the unification of the equipment, design solutions, optimization of the shipyard and subcontractors, the shipbuilder and trawler fleet owner said.
ATF CEO Alexey Zaplatin commented: "The management of Akhangelsk Trawl Fleet has planned a large-scale fleet upgrade program to replace old ships with the newest generation vessels and expansion into new fishing areas. The signing of the option agreement for more ships to be built at the Russian shipyard has been made possible thanks to the support in the form of investment allowances".
Vyborg Shipyard (part of state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation from 2012) is one of the largest shipbuilding companies of the North-Western Region of Russia with over 60-years’ experience in shipbuilding. Since its inception in 1948 the shipbuilding company has built more than 200 different vessels with a total displacement of 1,550,000 tonnes.
United Shipbuilding Corporation was founded in 2007 as a 100-percent state-owned group of companies consolidating about 70% of domestic shipbuilding industry. UCS currently incorporates three regional shipbuilding centers, nine engineering and design offices and 39 dockyards. The Corp’s largest shipbuilding assets include Kaliningrad-based JSC Yantar Shipyard, JSC Admiralty Shipyards (St. Petersburg), JSC PA Sevmash (Severodvinsk), JSC DVZ Zvezda (Vladivostok). Besides, USC holds a 50% stake in Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, a joint venture with STX Finland Cruise Oy.
Arkhangelsk Trawl Fleet Company was founded back in 1920. The ATF current fishing fleet consists of eight vessels. The fishing company owns and operates onshore infrastructure including freight station, warehouses, refrigerators and a fish-processing plant.
