New super trawler arrives in Iceland

ICELAND has welcomed the arrival of a new super freezer trawler which is said to be one of the most advanced in the world.

The pelagic vessel Sigurdur VE is owned by Ísfélag Westman and is expected to head out for the Greenland mackerel grounds within a few days of its arrival. The vessel has been authorised to fish on Royal Greenland pelagic licences. The ship is described as “elegant, with large capacity and  the latest in cooling and catching equipment.” Stefan Fridriksson, the  manager Ísfélag Westman , said the company was moving towards more freezing at sea and this vessel will mean longer  distance trips without losing any quality in the catch.   The 83 metre long vessel was built in Turkey as are many Icelandic and Norwegian trawlers these days. Originally designed for a Norwegian company. it can carry up to 22 people and has 15 modern comfortable cabins for crew and observers. It will join two other pelagic vessels in the company fleet. Mr Fridriksson said the company had streamlined the fleet in order to bring over this vessel and he thought  Ísfélag now had the youngest pelagic fleet in the country.   He told Kvotinn.is that  the vessel was not over-expensive, adding “it was bought at an attractive price”.  He also said  that while there were often periodic fluctuations, the market for mackerel was good at the moment both in terms of prices and a healthy stock. There was a growing market for mackerel for human consumption as well for oil and fish meal for aquaculture.  Ísfélag Westman is one of a number of Icelandic fishing companies who have announced or are planning investment in new trawlers.