Síldarvinnslan’s re-structuring of its fleet is ongoing, with several of its older vessels already sold out of the country this year.
Fresher trawler Bjartur was sold to Iran earlier this year, and former freezer trawler Barði has been extensively refitted at the Slippstöðinn yard to operate on fresh fish and to land its catch iced for processing ashore. Factory trawler Blængur is still undergoing its refit at the same yard as its new processing deck is being installed.
Síldarvinnslan has increased its share in pelagic vessel Bjarni Ólafsson AK-70 and now holds a 75% share in the company opposite brothers Gísli Rúnolfsson and Rúnolfur Rúnolfsson who also sail as the purser/trawler’s skippers.
The heirs of original owners Runólfur Hallfreðsson and Ragnheiður Gísladóttir inherited the 62% of the company their parents held, and three of the five decided to sell their holding to Síldarvinnslan, which had already held a 38% ownership via the 2003 merger with fishmeal producer SR-Mjöl.
Gísli Rúnolfsson commented that they have been working in co-operation with Síldarvinnslan for many years and it has been a successful partnership.
‘We brothers and the crew of Bjarni Ólafsson feel that we couldn’t have come to a better arrangement. This ensures Bjarni Ólafsson will continue to operate as it has up to now and the co-operation in running the ship has been exemplary,’ he said.
