German fishing company Deutsche Fischfang-Union, the Bremerhaven-based subsidiary of Icelandic operator Samherji, has placed an order worth over NOK500 million with VARD for a factory trawler to be delivered in the second-half of 2024
Vard Design in Ålesund is responsible for the 84-metre LOA, 16.7-metre breadth trawler’s VARD 8 03 design. The hull of the triple-rigger is to be built at Vard Braila in Romania and is scheduled to be delivered to Vard Brattvaag in Norway in early 2024 for outfitting.
“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with VARD to design and construct a new trawler for DFFU. We strive to produce fish products of the highest quality, and sustainability is at the core of our operations,” stated DFFU Directors Baldvin Thorsteinsson and Samuel Ortega.
“The new vessel will have exceptional crew facilities and will be equipped with the most advanced technology available in our industry. DFFU and affiliated companies have a long-standing relationship with Norwegian shipbuilders and suppliers. We want to build on that foundation and thereby further strengthen our ties with the Norwegian shipbuilding industry.”
Whitefish focus
The new trawler will feature a wealth of technology, including a factory deck laid out for 100% utilisation of catches. This starts with a system of live holding tanks to keep fish in prime condition prior to processing, packing and storage in the 2,200-cubic metre refrigerated fishroom on two deck levels. In addition, the new vessel will have 540 cubic metres of ensilage tank capacity, enabling factory waste to be offloaded for further processing ashore.
Primary target species are expected to be cod and saithe, processed and packed onboard – mainly for European markets, as well as redfish and Greenland halibut, which are in demand on Asia.
VARD’s SVP Sales & Marketing, Torgeir D Folland, has been central to the commercial process behind this vessel order.
“We appreciate that Deutsche Fischfang-Union has selected VARD to design and build their highly technological and sustainable trawler,” he said.
Optimised performance
Designed to be able to operate with single, twin or triple rig trawl gear, DFFU’s new vessel will have Seaonics cranes and deck machinery, with the high dynamic performance trawl winches routing energy while shooting away back to the ship’s SeaQ Energy Storage System.
Vard Electro is contracted to deliver a complete SeaQ package that incorporates highly intuitive bridge, power and automation systems. The SeaQ Integrated Bridge integrates the maritime systems easily and perceptively, focusing on optimisation of the operator’s workstation, and allowing storage of preferred setups.
The SeaQ package will also include SeaQ Micro Grid, SeaQ Energy Storage System, SeaQ Power Management System, SeaQ Integrated Automation System, and SeaQ Green Pilot. The combination of all of these provides the vessel operator with a comprehensive performance overview and options for managing operations to optimise power and emissions.
Accommodation is arranged for 34 people onboard.
“We welcome Deutche Fischfang-Union and their team to VARD and look forward to developing and building this vessel,” said Fredrik Mordal Hessen, VARD’s general manager for the offshore and specialised business sectors.
It is the first trawler of VARD’s own design to be supplied to a company in Germany, he added.
“This is an advanced trawler with tailor-made technological solutions to meet the customers requirement for sustainable operations and healthy fish. We look forward to co-operating throughout the building process.”
