Northern Osprey III is scheduled to arrive in Akureyri in the north of Iceland in September, where work will start installing its new Slippurinn DNG groundfish processing line.
Built in Turkey in 2017 for its Canadian owners, Northern Osprey III is outfitted for handling shrimp. The growing strength of the cod stock in Newfoundland waters has given MV Osprey Ltd confidence to outfit the trawler to operate on groundfish for three to four months of the year year.
‘This is a very exciting task for Slippurinn DNG, and we’re looking forward to the vessel’s arrival in the autumn,’ said divisional mannager Magnús Blondal, commenting that key factors in the production line’s design are a good throughput rate, the best possible catch handling and precise grading and packing.
‘The main challenge has been to develop a high-yield groundfish processing line in the available space. The owners had this in mind when the trawler was built, setting aside space for potential cod and Greenland halibut production,’ said designer Ásþór Sigurgeirsson, adding that the installation will include washers that maximise blood removal, and a DNG grader to separate grades prior to freezing, as well as weighing systems designed to minimise give-away weight.
‘The processing arrangement and packing for Japan-grade shrimp will also be altered to improve production rates. Cod and shrimp will be packaged for freezing, which saves labour and is in line with today’s production methods.’
‘The co-operation with Slippinn DNG to design the new groundfish line has been very positive,’ said fleet manager Keith Coady.
‘It’s been a quick, transparent process, with the focus on reaching the right solution. Including groundfish processing is an important step for the company and for Labrador Fishermen’s Union Shrimp Company Ltd. It supports operations and the region’s long-term economy. Secure access to cod quotas is vital to maximise gains for the crew and the community.’
