It was only a few years ago that Rederiet Astrid Fiskeri took delivery of pelagic vessel Astrid, but a new vessel is already on the way and its design anticipates changes in fishing patterns in the coming years.
The present Astrid was delivered in 2014, and now its owners have gone back to Karstensens Skibsværft for a new 91.80 metre purser/trawler to be delivered in May 2022, while the current Astrid has already been sold and will be handed over to Norwegian fishing company Herøyfjord in April next year.
Behind Rederiet Astrid Fiskeri are the Johansson family from Rörö in the Swedish archipelago and Mogens Ørts Jensen. Three generations of the Johansson family are active in the business, including 85-year-old Leif Johansson, while the next generation, Börje and Tomas Johansson have skippered the family’s vessels Astrid Marie and Astrid for many years. The younger generation, Daniel Johansson and brothers Kristian and Johannes Johansson will be responsible for the daily operation of the new vessel which will have quotas for both consumption and industrial catches.
‘At the moment, we are building Astrid-Marie for the company’s Swedish branch, and we are honoured by the trust the Johansson family has shown by placing another order with us,’ said Kent Damgaard at Karstensens Skibsværft.
‘It’s a great pleasure to work with this far-sighted and innovative fishing company, which has been one of the leaders in Denmark and Sweden for many years.’
He commented that the yard and the owners have worked together to develop a financially and technically attractive concept, with the focus on an operating pattern that includes expended endurance. The size and capacity of the Astrid design takes in prognoses for future fishing operations and the likelihood of fisheries developing outside their current areas.
The propulsion system is optimised for an operating pattern in which around 80% of activity is free-sailing, with a large, single propeller powered by a Wärtsilä 31 main engine. Astrid will be equipped with electric winches and electric fish pumps, as well as a Frio Nordica 3x1100kW RSW system.
One of the most valuable fishing vessel contracts that the yard has signed, the new Astrid is the Karstensen yard’s own design and will be completed at Skagen on a hull built at the Karstensen yard in Poland, with completion scheduled for May 2022.
