Iceland’s Minister of Fisheries yesterday launched Knarr Russia. Earlier this year six specialist companies in Iceland established a platform, Knarr Maritime, to provide options for new fishing vessels, combining decades of experience. The new venture, Knarr Russia, is aimed squarely at the Russian market for new fishing vessels by setting up a subsidiary company in co-operation with Russian partner Raduga.
Icelandic Minister of Fisheries Thorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir made the announcement of the venture between Raduga Industrial and Commercial Group and Knarr Maritime Consortium at the international fisheries event currently taking place in St. Petersburg.
Knarr Maritime and Knarr Russia are able to offer turnkey packages for fishing vessels of a variety of sizes and types, according to the customer’s requirements.
‘Our customers can be sure of having access in one place to the best of what Iceland has been able to achieve in fish processing ashore, or at sea on board catching vessels,’ said Knarr Maritime’s managing director Haraldur Árnason, who brings with him to the new venture extensive experience of the Russian market after two decades of being with fishing gear manufacturer and supplier Hampiðjan.
Knarr is Icelandic companies Skaginn 3X, Nautic, Kælismiðjan Frost, Brimrún, Naust Marine and Skipatækni, all of which have extensive experience in the design, development, construction and sales of equipment for fishing and fish processing.
Knarr has been in existence for less than six months but the companies behind it have had a close relationship for many years. This includes co-operation on the design and construction of fish processing facilities both in Iceland and around the world. In addition, the have also played a pivotal role in the renovation of the Icelandic fishing fleet in the last years.
‘The Icelandic Seafood industry and the supply industry behind it have long been leaders in their field in terms of technological development and we see that there is a great interest from the Russian fishing sector that sees the benefit in using the knowledge and technology that has given the Icelandic fishing industry the leading position. It is remarkable that Icelandic high tech companies have not formed an alliance earlier, an alliance that can provide turnkey solutions both in fishing vessels and in a land based operation,’ commented chairman Finnbogi Jónsson.
Raduga Group chairman Boris Ivanov stated that he has great expectations for this co-operation. He is well acquainted with the Icelandic economy after numerous visits to Iceland, having good contacts both business and personal with the Icelanders and serving as Honorary Consul for Iceland in St. Petersburg and North-West of Russia for several years.
‘After doing business with ship building companies here in Russia for many years I can confirm that there is a great interest in co-operating with the Icelanders,’ Boris Ivanov confirmed.
