The situation with the wear and tear of the Russian civil fleet is close to critical. Most of the ships have already crossed the 30-year mark, and many are twice as old. This is written by the MediaPaluba publication.
Thus, in the cargo fleet, 63% of 910 tankers and 73% of 1465 dry cargo ships are over 30 years old. The passenger fleet has 1877 vessels: 70% are over 30 years old, of which 18% are over 60 years old. The fishing fleet is 65% older than 30 years, the support fleet and the technical fleet are up to 92% older than 25–35 years. The icebreaker fleet is critical for the Arctic: 43% of icebreakers are over 40 years old.
In April 2025, USC sent a proposal to the President of the Russian Federation on comprehensive measures to limit the operation of dilapidated vessels and stimulate the construction of new ones. In July, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and in August, government meetings outlined plans to form a register of obsolete vessels and expand the preferential leasing program for new ones.
Experts warn that banning the operation of all ships older than 30 years will lead to the collapse of the industry. Small companies that own an aging fleet will not be able to quickly upgrade, and old ships provide prompt coverage of spot transportation.
The State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK) predicts that 400–819 passenger ships of Soviet construction will be decommissioned by 2030. Russian shipyards built a record 33 passenger ships in 2023, but this is clearly not enough to replace thousands of old units.
The problem is exacerbated by the high cost of construction and credit rates exceeding 5%, which makes new vessels economically unprofitable for most transportation. The state stimulates renewal through benefits and disposal programs, but the key question is how to ensure the replacement of thousands of worn-out vessels without disrupting transport and economic security.
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