Pelagic fishing company Astrid Fiskeri has placed an order for a large new pelagic vessel to be delivered in May 2022, designed with capacity to meet the challenges of changes in future fishing patterns.
The design of the new vessel has been developed by Karstensens Skibsværft in close collaboration with the customer, which anticipates the strong likelihood that today’s key fisheries will in future not be where they currently are.
The new Astrid will be a 91.80 metre pelagic trawler/purse seiner, and its size and capacity reflect the company’s view that an operating pattern that includes long trips and a greater need for flexibility in future fisheries.
The order for this new vessel comes not that many years after the company took delivery of the current Astrid, delivered by Karstensen in 2014, and Rockall in 2017, which has since been sold and is now the Swedish Ceton. A buyer has also been found for the current Astrid, and next year it will be handed over to Norwegian fishing company Herøyfjord.
Astrid Fiskeri is a longstanding venture between the Johansson family from Rörö in Sweden and Mogens Ørts Jensen. Three generations of the Johansson family take part in the business, from Leif Johansson – now in his 80s but still active – to Börje and Tomas Johansson who have skippered Astrid and Astrid Marie, and the youngest generation of Daniel Johansson and brothers Kristian and Johannes Johansson who will be responsible for the daily operation of the new vessel.
The present Astrid operates on both industrial and consumption fisheries, and its replacement is expected to operate on much the same principles.
Designed by Karstensens Skibsværft, Astrid’s construction is scheduled to take place at Karstensen Shipyard Poland, with the partially outfitted hull to be brought to the yard in Skagen for completion.
According to Kent Damgaard at Karstensens, the ship’s overall concept has been developed around the expected operating profile and a requirement to fish sustainably with minimal CO2 and NOx emissions per kilo of landed fish.
The propulsion system is optimised for an operating pattern with 80% of sea time spent free sailing, with a large single propeller, and the layout of deck equipment and fish pumps will be all electric.
He commented that this is one of the highest value contracts the yard has entered into.
“The company is looking for innovative and optimised solutions, partly based on the very positive operations of recent years on the current Astrid. Particular emphasis has been placed on optimising working conditions, safety and comfort for the crew,” he said.
“At the moment, Karstensens has Astrid Marie under construction for the company's Swedish operation, and we are delighted at the loyalty and trust that the Johansson family has shown by contracting another newbuilding. It is a great pleasure for the yard to get to work with this far-sighted and innovative fishing company, which has been one of the leaders in Denmark and Sweden for many years,” Kent Damgaard said, adding that a number of suppliers have yet to be selected, and this will be done in the coming weeks, with the focus on sustainability, quality, innovation and reliability.
So far selected are the Wärtsilä 31 main engine, Caterpillar auxiliaries, MacGregor Triplex and Rapp deck equipment systems, Brunvoll thrusters and a Frio Nordica RSW system.
