The new company, Knarr Maritime, is headed by managing director Haraldur Árnason who joins it after more than twenty years with fishing gear supplier Hampiðjan. Knarr brings together naval architects Nautic and Skipatækni, which are responsible for the designs of many of the latest generation of fishing vessels joining the Icelandic fleet.

Also part of the group are handling specialist Skaginn 3X, refrigeration experts Frost, marine electronics company Brimrún and Naust Marine, which has pioneered electric winches, control systems and power management systems for fishing vessels.

Haraldur Árnason commented that the aim is to be able to provide fishing vessel owners with complete packages, designing new freezer, fresher or pelagic vessels around the required production capacity, making it possible to optimise output from the outset.

Although this is a very new company, its member companies have very strong track records behind them, and all of them are involved in one or both of the HB Grandi and Samherji newbuilds series currently being built at the Celiktrans and Cemre yards in Turkey.

“The Icelandic seafood industry has always been in the lead when it comes to fisheries knowledge and technology. Knarr Maritime will not only build on that but also enable the industry to push these boundaries even further,” said Finnbogi Jónsson, chairman of Knarr Maritime's board.

“We have a strong belief in designing fishing vessels around catching, storing and processing fish, this is the primary criteria in all design and component selection,” said Knarr Maritime's new managing director Haraldur Árnason.

To find out more, visit the Knarr Maritime team at the Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition from the 13-15 of September on stand number B22