Norwegian naval architect Marin Teknikk has broken into the Russian market with contracts with three Russian companies for four modern longline vessels to be built at Severnaya Verf (Northern Shipyard) in St Petersburg, with deliveries taking place over a three-year period.
The customers are all in the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk region of northern Russia and intend to operate the new vessels mainly on cod and haddock in the Norwegian and Barents Sea, with the focus on full utilisation of the catch. They are opting to concentrate on longlining as this is seen as the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly fishing method.
Marin Teknikk will supply deliver the design and engineering packages for the four MT1112 XL design longliners which will have dimensions of 58.60 metres overall with a 13 metre beam.
The specifications are for top of the range longline deck hardware with lines retrieved via a moonpool, a full factory deck with a cannery, a substantial freezing capacity, Ice-Class certification and accommodation for a crew of up to 36. The hull design is optimised for low fuel consumption and low emissions, and the longliners will feature diesel-electric propulsion, technology that Marin Teknikk has pioneered in its longliner and offshore vessel designs.
‘We are very satisfied with these agreements which will secure jobs at Marin Teknikk, in addition to creating new activity within the maritime cluster,’ said Marin Teknikk’s sales director Richard K Gjerde, commenting that these contracts are an acknowledgment for the company’s achievement after working in a new and demanding market, and will contribute to developing its customer base, as well as strengthening Marin Teknikk’s position within ship design.
‘It’s also exciting to work closely with new markets and cultures. From our point of view in Norway, we are able to consolidate our extensive expertise within the fishing and maritime industries, and contribute to create increasing values, both in Norway and abroad,’ he said.
