It’s only eight years since Swedish fishing company Carmona AB launched the eighth vessel to carry the name, but the company’s ambition for sustainability and energy efficiency has resulted in the ninth (and the fourth newbuild) Carmona GG-330 being launched this summer.
This latest Carmona was outfitted by Öckerö shipbuilder Ö-Varvet, and was completed in time to be presented at this year’s Donsö Shipping Meet.
The 2700kW Carmona measures 49.90 metres with a 12.50 metre beam and has a 1200 tonne carrying capacity. The Gustafsson family operates the new pelagic trawler, which is based on the island of Dyrön, and the company is run by Anders Gustafsson with his sons Eric and Fredrick, with his cousin Martin Ivarsson.
Carmona works with two crews of five, and started fishing in August on herring, landing catches to Scandic Pelagic in Skagen and to Sweden Pelagic in Ellös.
‘When we made the decision to build the new Carmona, everyone was determined that it should set an environmental standard. It’s about taking environmental responsibility to the best of our ability and doing what is in our power to make the environmental impact as low as possible. We’re very proud of our new ship. This is proof of our strong belief in the future,’ said Anders Gustafsson.
Carmona has a hull optimised for fuel saving and a propulsion system designed to provide the best possible towing power for the engine power available, as well as having a scrubber system that removes 85% of NOx from exhaust gases.
‘We have inherited the area’s oldest profession from our ancestors, and we want to pass it on to our children and grandchildren. For our families, it’s a way of life that means that we constantly live with nature and are very concerned about a healthy sea and a healthy sea.’
The previous Carmona has been sold to Stella Nova, and Carmona AB has also acquired Lövön GG-778, with some of the crew remaining with the vessel under its new management.
Although Anders Gustafsson no longer sails as skipper, he’s adamant that the younger generation need to have an opportunity to be involved.
‘It’s very important that the young people go so sea themselves, instead of us from the older generation standing behind them and putting them right them all the time. I’ve often seen the interest of young people disappear if they don’t get the opportunity to do things for themselves,’ he said.
