Digital Shipyards of the Future
Russia is building a sovereign digital ecosystem for shipbuilding — without relying on Western software or scanning technologies. The transition marks a turning point for one of the country’s most strategic industries.
From Blueprints to a Digital Future
The Russian company Dalzavod Ship Repair Center JSC, part of the Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center under the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), has launched a large-scale digitalization project for its technical documentation archive. This initiative could become the foundation for transforming not only the enterprise itself but also the entire ship repair industry in Russia’s Far East.
To carry out the project, the company introduced domestic planetary scanners Elarscan A1-600KS and A1-600. These devices can digitize large-format blueprints, engineering journals, and even bound volumes without damaging the originals. The floor-standing scanner is capable of handling documents weighing up to 50 kilograms, while the desktop version is designed for delicate work with fragile, tightly bound materials. This ensures the preservation of the unique archive accumulated over decades by one of Russia’s oldest ship repair facilities.
Shipbuilding on Russian Software
The digitization of Dalzavod’s technical archive is fully aligned with Russia’s nationwide strategy for the digital transformation of shipbuilding. In July 2025, it was announced that specialists from USC, the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, and the CSoft Group are jointly developing a domestic heavy-class CAD system.
This project aims to replace foreign engineering software entirely and create a unified digital environment connecting designers, shipyards, customers, regulators, and operators. At its core, the system uses a comprehensive digital model of the vessel, integrating data about its components, costs, operations, and technological characteristics. It combines two key modules — design and project management — enabling not just drafting, but end-to-end control over construction and maintenance processes. Currently, the CAD system is in the architectural development stage, with engineers from Almaz testing real-world scenarios.
The project is of strategic importance, as USC handles around 80% of all Russian shipbuilding projects, spanning both defense and civilian production — from next-generation vessels and icebreakers to offshore engineering platforms. CSoft brings expertise in engineering software, BIM, PLM, and document digitization — a vital component of Dalzavod’s modernization efforts.
Far East Shipbuilding Cluster Gathers Momentum
Over the past five years, Russia’s Far East has seen the rapid emergence of a shipbuilding cluster. In 2024, federal authorities began consolidating major shipyards in Vladivostok and expanding workforce training programs.
These developments show that Dalzavod’s digitalization is part of a larger national strategy to modernize shipbuilding amid sanctions and import substitution efforts. The project carries regional and strategic significance. Dalzavod plays a key role in supporting both defense and civilian fleets of the Pacific Fleet. Digitizing decades of documentation will accelerate technical data access, improve repair efficiency, and streamline design workflows.
The economic impact will extend beyond the shipyard — boosting the Primorye region’s industrial competitiveness and driving demand for IT professionals in manufacturing. The acquired expertise in big data management, digital integration, and service analytics can later be replicated in other industries such as energy, logistics, and engineering.
Russia Strengthens Its Pacific Presence
For Russia’s IT and industrial sectors, the project opens new horizons. The deployment of domestic Elarscan scanners exemplifies successful import substitution in industrial digitalization. A digital competence center for ship repair technologies may soon emerge in Vladivostok, focusing on lifecycle management systems, predictive maintenance platforms, automated repair lines, and cloud-based archives. Similar initiatives are already underway: for instance, Severnaya Verf in St. Petersburg employs digital twins for vessel modernization, while the Zvezda shipyard in the Far East uses Russian CAD and ERP systems.
Dalzavod’s digitalization is more than a local modernization effort — it is part of a national movement toward technological sovereignty and global competitiveness in shipbuilding. In the coming years, Dalzavod may evolve from a traditional repair yard into an intelligent industrial hub combining cutting-edge technology with deep technical heritage — reinforcing Russia’s position in the Pacific and ensuring its long-term technological independence.
