The ceremony was attended by Andrey Kostin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC); Andrey Puchkov, USC General Director; Kirill Polyakov, Vice Governor of St. Petersburg; Savely Karpukhin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Russian Fishery Company; Andrey Bystrov, Acting General Director, Admiralty Shipyards; and other distinguished guests.
Captain Ipatov is a next-generation large freezer fishing trawler. To date, vessels in this series are the largest Russian-built factory trawlers operating at sea. They are distinguished by record-breaking processing capacity, a high degree of automation, maximum safety and environmental performance, and modern crew accommodation for both work and rest. The vessels are fitted with state-of-the-art facilities capable of comprehensive and waste-free processing of the entire catch into high-value-added products.
"Today we are launching the seventh trawler at Admiralty Shipyards as part of the state ‘underkeel quota’ program. This vessel is named after Sergey Borisovich Ipatov, a distinguished RFC captain who gave more than 30 years of his life to the sea. Through this tradition, we honor the dedication and character of our seafarers. Every Russian can see the results of our work firsthand by reaching for products on store shelves made from pollock caught in the Far East. On average, a Russian consumes about 25 kg of fish per year. This trawler will harvest roughly 60,000 tons annually, enough to supply more than 2.5 million people. Everyone gathered here today has every reason to be proud. Fair winds, Captain Ipatov",
The new vessel is named after Sergey Borisovich Ipatov, a legendary RFC captain and veteran of the fishing industry, whose decades of experience and unwavering commitment laid the groundwork for the modern fleet’s success. The name embodies the continuity of generations and the highest standards of professionalism. The vessel that bears his name is set to carry on that proud legacy, now powered by cutting-edge technology.
Following completion of outfitting and sea trials, Captain Ipatov will join its “sister vessels” in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea, further solidifying RFC’s industry leadership.
ST-192 vessels have already proven their exceptional performance. The first four trawlers in the series, built by Admiralty Shipyards, are currently fishing successfully in the Far East basin and have set industry records for catch and processing volumes. The fifth supertrawler, Captain Yunak, is undergoing fishing trials and will soon begin commercial operations. The flag-raising ceremony for Mechanic Shcherbakov is scheduled for September, after which it will head out for its own fishing trials. Meanwhile, construction of the eighth vessel in the series, Aleksandr Buzakov, continues at Admiralty Shipyards.
