Aker Seafoods has purchased M/Tr “Polaris” for NOK 125 million to replace M/Tr “Vesttind”.
Aker Seafoods has been on the search for a replacement vessel after selling ”Vesttind” in April this year. “Polaris” is a modern trawler built in 2000. The vessel was originally constructed for shrimp fishing and will now undergo some operating changes to adapt for the harvesting of whitefish. The vessel will be handed over in August 2007.
“The vessel is more modern and bigger in size than we originally planned for the replacement vessel for “Vesttind” to be, but the used-vessel market is currently very limited, which led the company to invest in the future,“ says Aker Seafoods’ CEO Yngve Myhre.
“With a modern replacement vessel like “Polaris,” the group can keep its qualified key personnel, at the same time as reduced operating costs contributes to an expected increase in earnings before tax of a minimum of NOK 10 million on a yearly basis for the harvesting business area in Aker Seafoods,” Myhre continues.
The Aker Seafoods group will be freeing up capital of above NOK 50 million by the disposal of “Vesttind” and the purchase of “Polaris.” The funds will be used to strengthen strategic projects that are evaluated by the group
