When Christophe Julio wanted to replace the family’s trawler, he decided to go for a new boat with a GRP hull and went to the Plasti-Pêche yard at L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer for the newbuild.
The original Fabian Mélissa, built in 1988, was sold at the beginning of this year and this summer the new GRP-hulled Fabian Mélissa II was delivered by Plasti-Pêche to Christophe Julio, his wife Aline and son Fabian, who also takes over as skipper. The boat operates from La Turballe on France’s Atlantic coast.
The 30-month newbuild project has been more expensive than steel, but GRP was chosen for its low maintenance, and the owners firmly believe in the future of fishing.
This is a multi-purpose fishing vessel designed to all ow them to alternate fisheries for sole, langoustine, cuttlefish, squid, pelagic species and shellfish at different times of the year.
Fabian Mélissa has an overall length of 11.95 metre and a beam of 5.80 metres, providing plenty of deck area, as well as space for two tanks for holding live langoustine.
The main engine is a 171kW Volvo D13 , which drives a 1500mm diameter four-bladed propeller via a Masson gearbox. Fuel capacity is for 3000 litres of diesel.
Fabian Mélissa II’s layout includes a well-equipped shelterdecked working deck that incorporates a sorting table and facilities to minimise lifting, as well as accommodation for a crew of up to four with a well fitted-out galley and mess area.
