HB Grandi’s new pelagic vessel, ‘Víkingur AK’, is to be launched early next month, if everything goes according to plan.

‘Víkingur’. Credit: HB Grandi/Thórarinn Sigurbjörnsson

‘Víkingur’. Credit: HB Grandi/Thórarinn Sigurbjörnsson

The ship is expected to arrive in Iceland in December.

Víkingur is the company’s second pelagic newbuild under construction at the Celiktrans Deniz Insaat yard in Turkey, and the first of the pair, Venus NS, was delivered in May.

According to marine superintendent Thórarinn Sigurbjörnsson, Víkingur’s construction has been making good progress and there have been no unexpected obstacles. The ship has been painted and should be ready for launching in 10-15 days.

HB Grandi has also contracted the construction of three fresher trawlers at the same yard in Turkey. The hull of the first, Engey RE, is currently being assembled and plates are being cut and shaped at the yard for the hull of the second trawler in the series. The expectation is that the first two trawlers will be delivered next year and the third in 2017