VESSEL REVIEW | Kapitan Egorov – Russian crab boat designed for Far East waters

The Russian Crab Group of Companies recently took delivery of a new crab fishing vessel built locally by Onega Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant. Kapitan Egorov was designed for operation in unrestricted navigation areas, allowing it to haul up to 120 tonnes of live crab over long distances.

Long endurance for maximising catch quantity

The vessel has an LOA of 57.7 metres (189 feet), a moulded beam of 12.6 metres (41.3 feet), a maximum draught of 4.84 metres (16 feet), a depth of 7.5 metres (25 feet), a deadweight tonnage of approximately 950, a gross tonnage of 1,550, and accommodation for 24 crewmembers.

The propulsion arrangement consists of a Yanmar 1,620kW (2,170hp) main engine, a 400kW bow thruster, two MAN 544kW diesel generators, and a 92kW emergency generator. The propulsion allows the vessel to reach speeds of up to 12.6 knots, whilst more economical cruising will yield an endurance of 40 days, allowing the crew to maximise catch on each trip to satisfy quotas more efficiently.

The main engine is also fitted with improved environmental safety indicators. Even if the engine is not functioning properly, a backup electric propulsion system will guarantee that the vessel stays afloat. The Ice2 ice class of the hull and machinery meanwhile enables the vessel's safe operation in the cold waters of the Russian Far East.

The vessel is equipped for trapping and storage of live crab in nine RSW tanks with a total volume of 640 cubic metres (23,000 cubic feet) to allow the transport of between 110 and 120 tonnes of catch. The hold encompasses two decks and the water in the crab tanks is constantly being treated by an Everflo RSW system.

Large capacity combined with advanced monitoring technology

Each RSW tank is fitted with equipment for controlling the temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels in the water to ensure at least 98 per cent of product preservation. The crew are able to continuously monitor the condition of the crabs and the water in the tanks, and all pertinent data can be digitally accessed using a console on the bridge or from shore via wireless connectivity.

The deck equipment includes a Palfinger Marine crane with a maximum lifting capacity of 3.5 tonnes. The fishing deck itself is noticeably large with a total area of 140 square metres (1,500 square feet) to accommodate an array of equipment. The deck offers an increase in area of approximately 65 per cent compared to the fishing decks on other Russian crab boats that are also operating in the Far East fishery basin.

Kapitan Egorov was designed in compliance with Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (KM) rules. The vessel's main operating areas will encompass the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk.