Shadow Fleet of Russia: Service Life of Vessels Extended to 50 Years Despite Risks

The authorities of the Russian Federation plan to extend the operational lifespan of river and sea vessels from 40 to 50 years. The relevant amendments to the draft law were prepared by the Ministry of Transport of Russia, although it was previously anticipated that the use of old vessels would be prohibited starting in 2030. The impetus for this decision was a significant reduction in state funding for the preferential leasing program for civilian vessels for 2026–2028 — nearly halved to $1.75 billion. As a result, the number of vessels planned to be built under this program decreased from 260 to 219 units.

This is reported by AgroReview

Reasons for Delays and Shipbuilding Problems in Russia

The decision is also influenced by the construction timelines for vessels at Russian shipyards: a medium-tonnage ship takes an average of two years to build, while a large-tonnage ship takes three. Moreover, projects are often delayed for similar periods, making it impossible to deliver most of the already laid vessels to customers by 2030.

“Previously, the Ministry of Transport of Russia stated that to replace the old fleet, 1,714 vessels need to be updated in the next four years. However, according to preliminary estimates, in 2025, Russian shipbuilding plants delivered 129 civilian vessels to customers compared to 131 in 2024.”

Threat from the Shadow Fleet of Russia

It is worth noting that Russia’s shadow fleet consists of over 900 tankers aged 15–20 years, which are used to circumvent sanctions on oil exports. These vessels are often operated without proper insurance and with crews lacking sufficient experience, significantly increasing the risk of environmental disasters, including oil spills in the Baltic Sea.