Christened at its home port in La Réunion, the new Cap Kersaint paves the way for the renewal of the French-operated fleet fishing in the French Southern Ocean and Antarctic Territory (TAAF) of Crozet and Kerguelen waters for Patagonian toothfish.
Cap Kersaint has been built for fishing company Cap Bourbon, part of the Le Garrec Group. Constructed to a Skipsteknisk design, the 60 metre Cap Kersaint was built at Piriou Vietnam
The ice-class freezer longliner is designed to meet the economic and environmental challenges of operating in the far Southern Ocean, as well as providing a safer and more comfortable working platform for crews.
‘Cape Kersaint is an innovative vessel that leads the way in the respect of the crew comfort and environmental factors,’ said Piriou CEO Vincent Faujour as the yard’s seventh newbuilt longliner was formally christened and prepared for sea.
This vessel is the first Southern Ocean longline equipped with a moonpool amidships, allowing the crew to haul the fishing gear and retrieve catches under sheltered conditions. Cap Kersaint is also built with a stern ramp hidden from view to avoid seabird predation and mortality.
To limit CO2 emissions, reduce fuel consumption and optimise energy management, Cap Kersaint has diesel-electric propulsion and the azimuthing electric thrusters that make the ship highly manoeverable.
Capacities are for 460 cubic metres of marine diesel and 87 tonnes of fresh water, while the refrigerated fishroom has a 935 cubic metre capacity and the processing deck has three freezers capable of freezing to -25°C
According to Cap Bourbon CEO Jean-Pierre Kinoo, Cap Kersaint complies with all rules and requirements set by the TAAF fisheries authorities, and its catches are MSC certified.
‘The unique union of the Southern Ocean fishing companies contributes to the financing and protection of the fishing areas, as well as research into the regions’s resources,’ he said. ‘The arrival of Cap Kersaint is an indication that the Southern Ocean fishery has a bright future.’
Cap Kersaint is due to sail in the next few days for its first winter season in French territorial waters around Crozet and Kerguelen.
