VESSEL REVIEW | Kedon – Russian crabber with secondary longlining capability

Khabarovsk Shipbuilding Plant, a division of Russia’s state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), has handed over a new crab fishing vessel to Russian fishing company Mag-Sea International.

Named Kedon after a river in Magadan Oblast in Russia’s Far East, the newbuild is the second of two Project 03141 vessels designed for both crab and shrimp fishing as well as transport of live catch. The vessels may also be configured to undertake longline fishing if needed.

As with earlier sister Omolon, Kedon has an LOA of 63.27 metres, a beam of 10.6 metres, a depth of 4.6 metres, a draught of four metres, a gross tonnage of 1,048, and accommodations for 21 crewmembers. A diesel engine with a rated output of 1,618 kW at 310 rpm drives a controllable-pitch propeller to enable the vessel to reach speeds of up to 14 knots or stay out at sea for 45 days.

The fishing equipment consists of two cranes for lifting pots out of the water and offloading at port. Catch is stored in 15 RSW tanks with a total capacity of 346.7 cubic metres. The vessel also has a desalination plant that can produce up to three cubic metres of fresh water per day.

All onboard systems draw power from two Yanmar 441kW generators.

Kedon was built in compliance to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping’s Ice2 requirements.

Some of our readers have expressed disquiet at our publication of reviews and articles describing new vessels from Russia. We at Baird Maritime can understand and sympathise with those views. However, despite the behaviour of the country’s leaders, we believe that the maritime world needs to learn of the latest developments in vessel design and construction there.

Click here for more news and gear stories, feature articles, and vessel reviews as part of this month’s focus on fishing and aquaculture.