USC presented a strategy for the development of civil shipbuilding until 2036
The key task of the shipbuilding industry is the formation of sustainable solvent demand and rhythmic loading of shipyards. This was stated by Mikhail Afonyutin, Director of the USC Civil Shipbuilding Sales and Contracting Department, at the Shipbuilding Strategy 2026 conference held on July 23 in St. Petersburg.
According to experts, the need to upgrade the civilian fleet is estimated at hundreds of vessels, but it has not yet turned into a comparable volume of new contracts. By the end of 2025, 36 civilian ships were contracted at Russian shipyards, the lowest value in the last ten years, while an average of about 126 ships worth about 318 billion rubles were contracted annually in 2016-2025, and the strategic need is estimated at about 1,600 ships by 2036.
Launching of the cargo ship "Caspian Coast"
USCC
"We do not have a shortage of new vessels. The main shortage is projects prepared for contracting. The industry's task is to transform the overall demand into long–term serial orders with a clear economy and proven financing," said Mikhail Afonyutin.
Among the factors constraining contracting, the speaker highlighted the high cost of borrowed funds, the limited amount of existing support measures, regulatory requirements that are not always synchronized with the readiness of Russian production of ship components, as well as the risks of the shipowner associated with changes in the cost of materials and credit conditions over a long period of construction.
Separately, Mikhail Afonyutin touched upon the economics of the shipowner and leasing rates. According to calculations, with a lease term of 25 years, the shipowner's operating expenses of about $ 3,100 per day and an exchange rate of 80 rubles per dollar, the financing rate acceptable to the shipowner is about 4.5–4.6% per annum – an increase in the rate to 7.6% increases the monthly lease payment by several million rubles and requires either an increase in the time charter equivalent, or reducing the cost of the vessel. The latter can be achieved by entering serial construction and platform solutions, such as those developed by USC Platform No. 1.
As an example of existing support measures, Afonyutin cited the parameters of the draft new program of the Industrial Development Fund (EDF) "Leasing of water transport vessels", designed for 2026-2029 and providing budget financing in the amount of 44.5 billion rubles, of which 8.1 billion fall in 2026. The program will allow maintaining the maximum weighted average rate of no more than 4.5% per annum for passenger ships and no more than 8% for cargo, fishing vessels and the technical fleet, with a loan term of up to 25 years for cargo ships and up to 15 years for passenger ships. The operator of the mechanism is the FRP, which selects leasing companies and projects.
"The FRP program is a significant and necessary industry tool. In our opinion, it is necessary to work out a reduction in rates for cargo ships to 4.5–4.6% per annum. This will ensure an acceptable economy for customers," Mikhail Afonyutin emphasized.
