NIZHNY NOVGOROD, September 24. /TASS/. Russian vessels with a capacity exceeding 500 metric tons are being equipped with orbital constellations from the Gonets Satellite System company (a subsidiary of Roscosmos state corporation) to transmit location data for fishing vessels, said CEO of the company Andrey Manoylo.

As of January 1, 2026, the Russian fishing industry fully transitioned to using exclusively domestic orbital constellations.

"Since January of this year, <...> we have completely replaced the Inmarsat system on large-tonnage vessels over 500 metric tons. Currently, all large-tonnage vessels transmit and exchange information through the Gonets satellite system," the chief executive said at the Satcomrus-2026 exhibition.

According to an order of the Ministry of Agriculture, the use of UK Inmarsat satellite stations on vessels as technical monitoring tools was discontinued in Russia on January 1, 2026. Industry companies now use the Russian orbital constellations Gonets, Yamal, and Express to transmit vessel location data to the Federal Agency for Fisheries’ industry monitoring system. The new equipment regulation applies to vessels with a gross tonnage of more than 80 metric tons and a main engine power exceeding 55 kW.

The 31st International Conference of Satellite Communications and Broadcasting Network Operators and Users in Russia, Satcomrus-2026, is being held from September 24 to 25 in Nizhny Novgorod. TASS is the general media partner of the forum.