A new venture between a group of Icelandic companies, Knarr Maritime, was officially launched at the Brussels Seafood Global Exhibition this week.
Icelandic Minister of Fisheries Thorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir unveiled the company brand name at a ceremony at the stand in Hall 4 where Skaginn 3X and Frost presented their products.
The Minister commented that she was proud to be able to launch the Knarr (this being an ancient name for a trading ship) as the initiative will serve to strengthen an already important high-tech sector working within the Icelandic seafood industry.
Knarr Maritime is founded by Icelandic technology companies that all play a vital role in designing building and equipping fishing vessels. Knarr’s aim is to be able to provide cohesive strategies for vessel owners in designing and building new fishing vessels, with the naval architecture and technical skills of the member companies making it possible to make complete packages available for fresher and freezer demersal vessels as well as pelagic processing vessels.
Despite being newly established, Knarr Maritime already has strong references with projects that its member companies are already involved with, including several newbuilds that have already arrived in Iceland, with more on the way.
‘The Icelandic seafood industry has always been in the lead when it comes to fisheries knowledge and technology. Knarr Maritime will not only build on that but also enable the industry to push these boundaries even further,’ said Finnbogi Jónsson, chairman of Knarr Maritime’s board
The founding members of Knarr Maritime are Skaginn 3X, Nautic, Frost, Brimrún, Naust Marine and Skipataekni.
These companies have complementary skills and together they cover most of the skill sectors required for a modern fishing vessel.
‘We believe strongly in designing the ships and all the components around catching, storing and processing fish, this is the first and the last criteria we have in all design and component selection,’ said Knarr Maritime’s new managing director Haraldur Árnason who comes to this new role after more than twenty years in a variety of positions within the Hampiðjan Group.
