The striking new addition to the Global Seas’ fleet has arrived in Dutch Harbor and is ready to start on the Alaska pollock B season following its conversion at the Patti Marine Enterprises yard in Florida.
Originally the New England-based pelagic catcher 2006-built Western Venture, the vessel was acquired by Global Seas to join the company’s fleet of Bering Sea trawlers, replacing an older trawler of the same name. Defender required an extensive rebuild to be fitted out for the Bering Sea, and was lengthened with an extra 1.80m to bring it up to 51.80m LOA with the addition of extra bulk at the stern for handling fishing gear and the pumping system. It will fish on pollock for Global Seas.
This is only the second trawler in the Pacific North-West fleet to be fitted with a system for pumping fish on board. Defender’s ten RSW tanks have a capacity of more than 900 tonnes. The refit design work was handled by Seattle naval architect Jensen Maritime.
The catch handling system centres around the Rapp fish pump that can shift as much as 900 tonnes of fish per hour and is deployed using the pair of Rapp winches on the stern gantry. A new full forward, sheltered fish distribution room was constructed for protection during the fish sorting process. These changes make the vessel better suited for the operations and weather of its new role in Alaska.
Structural work included carried out included the stern extension, the addition of a bulbous bow with refurbishing of the thruster, whaleback bow cover for the refurbished anchor windlass, an anti-roll tank, aft decks and bulwarks. Mechanical work included rebuilding the twin main engines and generators, installation of new propellers, nozzles and deflector rudder system. Electrical systems and wiring received substantial upgrades and reworks by the shipyard along with sandblasting, water blasting, deep cleaning, and re-coating.
‘Jensen built its early reputation one fishing vessel at a time,’ said Jensen vice-president Johan Sperling. ‘While we were originally known throughout the Northwest for designing ‘functionally elegant’ vessels of all sizes that were distinguished by their endurance and an ability to stand up to anything the rough waters of the North Pacific could dish out, today we’ve set the standard for the entire commercial fishing industry. Both Global Seas and Patti Marine are longtime customers of ours and we were happy to work with them on this latest conversion.’
Out of the water for the initial stages of the rebuild, Defender was launched carrying its new name in February. It sailed from the Patti Marine Enterprises yard at Pensacola in Florida in May for the long 5200 nautical mile delivery trip via the Panama Canal to Seattle, where it has been alongside since June, before heading for Dutch Harbor in time for the B Season to start its fishing career for Global Seas.
