At the SPIEF 2022 session, Federal Agency for Fishery Head Ilya Shestakov outlined the key prospects for the development of the civil shipbuilding industry that will be implemented as part of the second stage of investment quotas, specifically the construction of a refrigerated transport and research fleet.
The fishing industry faces a growing need for modern infrastructure to transport catches and expand the resource base of domestic fisheries. In the wake of the modernization of the fishing fleet and processing enterprises, it is now time for the active construction of refrigerated transport and research vessels. Federal Agency for Fishery Director Ilya Shestakov made this point during the session ‘Oceans and Global Transformation: What Kind of Fleet does Russia and the World Need?’ at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
These challenges require strategic decisions, and the first steps have already been taken. At the Nevsky Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant, construction has begun on two research vessels of Project 17050, Professor Anatoly Yelizarov and Professor Pyotr Moiseyev, for the industry’s main institution, Russian Federal Research Institute for Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO). Plans to develop transport infrastructure are being actively discussed. Given the current economic conditions around the world, it is crucial to localize key production stages, so regional shipyards and equipment manufacturers will play an important role in the construction of ships to meet the fishing industry’s various needs. The development of Russia’s own shipbuilding and equipment production is a priority, although it is not a reason to refuse to work with foreign partners who are interested in open and mutually beneficial cooperation. It could make sense to take a closer look at new suppliers from Southeast Asia and Latin America.
The Global Fishery Forum & Seafood Expo Russia, the main event in the Russian fishing industry, will showcase the broad diversity of domestic and foreign enterprises that are interested in building a civilian fleet. The event has become a focal point not only for the main players in the fishery industry, but also for the entire related infrastructure. Shipbuilding and ship repair are among the most prominent themes at the exhibition’s exposition area each year. Given their importance for the entire industry’s stability and development, the organizers decided this year to allocate a separate Pavilion F with an area of 13,000 m2 for shipyards, design offices, and equipment manufacturers.
Shipbuilding issues will be a key focus of the event’s business programme. On the opening day of the forum and exhibition, the PortNews media group will organize a conference on ship repair and the modernization of facilities and component equipment. The construction of a scientific, transport, and auxiliary fleet for the fishing industry’s needs will be discussed on 22 September at a roundtable that will be organized jointly with Korabel.ru.
“The Federal Agency for Fishery Head’s position is shared by us and the entire industry. It’s just as important to provide [the industry] with a refrigerated, transport, and scientific fleet as it is with a fishing fleet. So, today, Seafood Expo Russia is also attracting shipyards, design bureaus, and equipment manufacturers that are not associated with the construction of fishing vessels. We are ready to provide them with customers and orders. We also invite new manufacturers and distributors to participate, which will help the industry develop in an integrated manner,” Expo Solutions Group CEO Ivan Fetisov said.
In 2022, Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo Russia will celebrate an anniversary: the event will be held on 21–23 September in St. Petersburg for the fifth time and will be the largest in its history. The exhibition’s exposition area will take up two pavilions at the Expoforum CEC.
All the latest news about the event and its business programme is available in its Telegram channel.
Registration is open for visitors – you can get an e-ticket here.