The need to be able to work more weather, plus a confidence in the future of the fishing industry are behind the decision by Skagen skipper Christian Pilegaard to order a new shrimp trawler.
The new boat, due for delivery in late 2017, will have three times the capacity of the boat it replaces,and he hopes that it will allow him to fish an extra 50 to 60 days each year as currently they have to work around poor weather, often forced in to seek shelter.
‘We would like to be able to fish a regular routine, keeping weekends clear. The new boat will give us the size to do that as we’ll be able to work through more weather,’ he said.
The new Emmely Pilegaard S-226 is a Vestværft design, with the hull being built in Poland, after which it will be brought to Thyborøn for fitting out by Thyborøn Ship & Motor (3xJ). The new trawler has a 28 metre overall length and an 8.40 metre beam,and will have a Cummins main engine and twin gensets. It will replace an older boat that isn’t all that old – built at the Agger yard in 2000 and re-engined only two years ago with a new Volvo Penta main engine, as well as having been recently sandblasted, painted and fitted a year ago with a new shrimp handling line.
Christian Pilegaard said that the choice of where to fit out the new shrimper was not a difficult one. Four years ago his present boat needed its hydraulics overhauled and Thyborøn Ship & Motor did such a good job that he was confident he could bring the newbuild project to them.
The new Emmely Pilegaard is expected to start fishing towards the end of next year. Christian Pilegaard and the new trawler’s co-owner and mate Simon Jensen went to Nordjyske Bank for advice and financing the newbuild.
