June 29 — Shipbuilder's Day: history and traditions of the holiday

Every year on June 29, Russia celebrates Shipbuilder's Day, a professional holiday for specialists who create modern engineering solutions for the fleet. In 2025, the date falls on a Sunday. Read about how the industry originated in our country, how it lives today, and what congratulations can be addressed to shipbuilders in the Izvestia article.

Shipbuilder's Day – 2025: the history of the profession

The professional holiday of Russian shipbuilders was established in 2017 on the initiative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and the United Shipbuilding Corporation. The date of June 29 was not chosen by chance: it was on this day in 1667 that Peter the Great signed a decree on the construction of the first Russian military frigate Orel, which marked the beginning of regular naval shipbuilding in Russia.

However, the origins of the profession go much deeper. The first reliable mentions of shipbuilding in Russia date back to the 15th century, when a shipyard for the construction of fishing vessels was organized in the Solovetsky Monastery.

In 1634, the first Western European type naval vessel, the Frideric, appeared in Nizhny Novgorod through the efforts of Russian craftsmen and foreign specialists. It was during this decade that the transition to state-owned shipbuilding took place. The culmination was the construction of the Oryol frigate in the village of Dedinovo, the prototype of the Dutch pinnace, which marked the birth of Russian naval engineering as an industry.

Peter the Great was aware of the strategic importance of the fleet. He not only built ships with his own hands, working in shipyards in Europe, but also systematically developed the industry in Russia. He founded key shipyards in Arkhangelsk and St. Petersburg, established naval schools and academies. By 1725, the country had a powerful Baltic Fleet of 130 sailboats and nine frigates. The first battleships appeared, such as the 54-gun Poltava and the 90-gun Lesnoye.

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During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Russian Empire consistently strengthened its fleet in the Baltic and Black Seas. Thanks to the development of shipbuilding, sea expeditions, geographical discoveries, and the solution of many transport and defense tasks have become possible.

By the beginning of the 20th century, the country had a developed system of shipyards and engineers trained in specialized educational institutions. After the October Revolution, a fundamentally new structure was created — the Workers' and Peasants' Red Fleet.

In the 1920s, the first state shipbuilding program was adopted, and in the 1930s, the foundation of the modern Navy was laid. In the post-war years, the civilian fleet was actively developed. Tankers, passenger ships, fishing and refrigerated ships were built. During this period, the USSR became a pioneer in the construction of nuclear icebreakers, which became a symbol of technical and scientific progress.

By the 1970s and 1980s, the USSR fleet numbered hundreds of specialized vessels, including container ships, oil tankers and railway ferries. Shipbuilding has become the backbone of the country's foreign trade infrastructure, connecting it with dozens of ports around the world.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the industry experienced a severe crisis. Some of the shipyards remained outside the country, and a significant proportion of the production base required modernization. However, even under the conditions of a systemic transformation, the shipbuilders continued to work.

Today, there are more than a thousand shipbuilding enterprises operating in Russia, located in key regions: St. Petersburg, Severodvinsk, Kaliningrad, Vladivostok, Nizhny Novgorod and others. A wide range of vessels is being produced, from nuclear icebreakers and scientific platforms to fishing trawlers, passenger liners and drilling complexes for Arctic exploration. Large-scale digitalization and technological modernization of production facilities are underway.

In addition, Russia remains the only country with a nuclear-powered icebreaking fleet and fully exploiting it. Powerful vessels such as the Arctic, Siberia, and Ural are paving the way along the Northern Sea Route, providing year-round navigation in the harsh Arctic latitudes.

Traditions of celebrating the Shipbuilder's Day

On this day, industry enterprises organize solemn meetings, concerts, and sports competitions. The best employees, leading engineers, craftsmen, and designers are awarded diplomas, commendations, and valuable gifts. Special attention is paid to industry veterans.

Large shipbuilding centers host open tours of shipyards, exhibitions of innovative projects, and demonstrations of the latest vessels.

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Conferences and round tables will also be organized on June 29, bringing together professionals and scientific youth. They discuss modern eco-friendly technologies, digitalization, and ways to modernize the fleet. The festive events become a platform for sharing experiences and attracting new talents to the industry.

Who and how they congratulate on June 29th — best wishes

On June 29, congratulations are sent to engineers, technologists, employees of design bureaus, teachers and students of specialized educational institutions. Izvestia has prepared examples of wishes for the culprits of the celebration:

"Congratulations on the Day of the Shipbuilder! Let the ships be designed and built with technical precision and engineering skill. We wish you impeccable calculations and well-coordinated team work so that your skills continue to move the country forward!";

"Congratulations on your professional holiday! Let the systems and mechanisms work like clockwork, and the new vessels serve people and strengthen Russia's power. We wish you inspiration and new projects. Happy Shipbuilder's Day!";

"Congratulations on the Day of the Shipbuilder! Shipbuilding is a synthesis of science, craft and the spirit of the discoverer. May your inspiration be as inexhaustible as the ocean, and your engineering thought as deep as the sea.";

"Dear shipbuilders, congratulations on your professional holiday! Thank you for creating a fleet that ensures logistics, maritime sovereignty and security of our country. We wish you confidence in your calculations and pride in every vessel launched."

Earlier, Izvestia told when and how Russia celebrates the Day of the Specialist of the Mine and Torpedo Service of the Russian Navy.