The fishing company Waterdance, based in the south-west of England, has expanded its fleet with a new beam trawler renamed in honour of a late colleague.
The 38.33m trawler with 8.02m breadth began life as the Cornelius Maria TX-49 when she was built in 1983 at the Haak Shipyard in Zaandam. She has been renamed Julie of Ladram E-271 in honour of parent company Greendale’s administrator Julie Jones, who died last year.
Following a serious fire on board ten years ago the trawler was extensively refitted, with its accommodation and wheelhouse replaced. It’s nine-cylinder Stork-Wärtsilä main engine was overhauled and rebuilt in 2016.
“This is a very exciting development for the Waterdance fleet. What we are getting is a beamer with a 1983 hull in excellent condition, and with superstructure that’s ten years old,’ said Waterdance managing director Nigel Blazeby as Julie of Ladram docked in Brixham for the first time, where it becomes the Devon port’s largest fishing vessel.
The Julie of Ladram has most recently been pulse beaming but under new skipper Steve Rogers will be fishing traditional groundfish species with large beam trawler gear.
The vessel is currently in Brixham and fishing is expected to begin at the end of January when she will be working seven-day trips with the crew rotating two trips at sea to one ashore.
