Fishing and processing company Thorbjörn, based at Grindavík in the south of Iceland, has placed an order with Astilleros Armón for a 58-metre long, 13.6-metre breadth fresher trawler with a 2024 delivery date.
The design is from Icelandic naval architect Skipasýn, which has also been instrumental in concluding the contract with Astilleros Armón.
The newbuild will have a 2,400kW main engine driving a 5-metre propeller with significantly slower revolutions than has been usual with older fishing vessels in this size bracket.
Minimising fuel consumption and the vessel’s environmental impact are central to the design and the new trawler is expected to be among the most energy-efficient in the Icelandic fleet. It is designed to operate as a twin-rigger and to be equipped electric winches.
The design also takes into account the possibility of an easy conversion to a freezer trawler at a later date if required.
According to Thorbjörn, the chief difference when compared to the company’s older trawlers will be in the catch handling arrangements, with automatic grading and with catches boxed in tubs on the catch-handling deck.
An automated lift then delivers the filled and iced tubs to the fishroom, where an automated system fitted on runners places them in position. The same system will be used for discharging catches.
This will be the first newbuild for Thorbjörn since 1967 and although more than 50 years have passed since Thorbjörn last built a new trawler, there have been several recent acquisitions, including factory trawler Tómas Thorvaldsson (ex-Sisimiut) and fresher trawler Sturla from the Westman Islands.
