The latest addition to Iceland's fresher trawler fleet, the Hulda Björnsdóttir, has officially been delivered to its owners in the port of Grindavík.
Designed by Skipasýn, an Icelandic naval architecture firm that specializes in effective solutions for various fisheries. The vessel was built at Astilleros Armón, a Spanish shipbuilding company based in northwest Spain. It was constructed as a groundfish vessel for the fishing company Thorbjörn (Thorfish). However, its future remains uncertain as the company undergoes restructuring, according to a Hook & Net Mag article.
The Hulda Björnsdóttir's construction began before the volcanic activity near Grindavík forced the evacuation of the town and its surrounding communities. As a result, the plans for the trawler have been reassessed, with the vessel’s original purpose of supporting Thorbjörn’s groundfish processing in Grindavík now in question.
The 189-foot vessel, with a molded breadth of 44 feet and a holding capacity for approximately 720 x 1000-liter tubs (264-gallon), features the trademarked Skipasýn design. Accommodations for up to 15 people are built into the vessel in single cabins alongside a sick bay and additional two-berth cabins.
The trawler is powered by a 2300kW MAN 7L27/38 engine, turning a 5000mm diameter MAN propeller. This, combined with a large-diameter, slow-running propeller, delivers a 134,482-pound bollard pull, ensuring the Hulda Björnsdóttir has plenty of power for its operations. The vessel's electrical needs are supported by a 1300kW Siemens shaft generator and two Scania gensets.
For fresh catch processing, the Hulda Björnsdóttir boasts a high-capacity system outfitted by Micro, including an over 44,000-pound icemaker from Climafrio and semi-automated tub handling. The fish room also features a remotely controlled cargo crane supplied by Crane Solutions for handling 264-gallon tubs.
The trawler’s deck is equipped with a comprehensive system supplied by Ibercisa, including three 200Kw, 85,980-pound trawl winches and various other winches for multiple functions, such as net retrieval and anchoring.
While the new trawler was still under construction, Thorbjörn announced a significant restructuring to divide the company into three entities, each managing a different vessel. The ownership of its freezer trawlers and fresher vessels is being handed down to the next generation of the Tómasson and Tómasdóttir families, to streamline operations and improve financial management.
The Hulda Björnsdóttir remains in limbo, as no official statement has been made about which branch of the Thorbjörn family will take ownership or whether the vessel will be sold. For more information, visit here.
