The last of the series of five new trawlers for Royal Greenland built at Astilleros de Murueta in Spain has been christened at a ceremony in Nuuk, bringing to a close an extensive fleet renewal programme over a number of years.
The five-vessel series began with filleter factory trawler Sisimiut, followed by four freezer trawlers designed to fish primarily for shrimp, of which the new Kaassassuk is the last to be completed – built to the same design as Tuugaalik, Nataarnaq and Avataq.
The 82.30-metre by 18-metre breadth Kaassassuk is built to operate on cold water shrimp, with the option of switching to groundfish if required. According to Royal Greenland, the new trawler has the capacity to fish up to 10,000 tonnes annually.
The christening ceremony took place with a large crowd in attendance, despite the harsh weather, foreshadowing of the demanding conditions that the new ship and its crew will soon encounter. Despite rain and gusting wind, many people made their way to the port, including the chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Kaassassuk’s godmother Ane Lynge, who celebrates her 36th anniversary with Royal Greenland, presided over the christening.
‘Fishing is the foundation of our company, of the economy – and of more than a thousand Greenlandic jobs. And that is precisely why it is also an area where we have a special responsibility. We are aware of that responsibility – and we are proud to take it on. The investment in Kaassassuk is part of that responsibility. It is not just an investment in another ship – it is an investment in our entire future: In fishing, in sustainability and in innovation,’ said Bodil Marie Damgaard, Royal Greenland’s EVP for HR & Communication.
Kaassassuk is outfitted with the latest technology, including robotic palletising, which automatically stacks pre-packaged products on pallets. This not only increases process efficiency, but also reduces heavy lifting and ensures uniform handling for export.
‘Kaassassuk, together with the new fleet, marks a new era for the fishing industry for shrimp, halibut and cod. The investment reaches far into the future – proof of Royal Greenland’s belief in the next 25 years,’ said Linjohn Christiansen, one of the new vessel’s two skippers.
‘It’s equipped with the most advanced catching and production equipment on the market, can fish with three trawls at a time and has a production capacity 160 tonnes of finished products.’
