There’s nothing unusual about seeing a fishing vessel at a shipyard to be lengthened, but shortening a vessel is less commonplace a sight. But this is what has happened to a tuna purse seiner on its way to the Solomon Islands from the Nodosa yard in Marín.
The reason for reducing the 57-metre vessel’s length is that the maximum length allowable under the Solomon Islands registry is 50 metres, hence the need to reduce Solomon Amber’s length by almost ten metres as part of an extensive rebuild.
The former Amada Isabel, it was built in Ecuador in 2010 with a 57-metre overall length and a 10-metre breadth. After changing hands several times and becoming José Armando, it is now in the ownership of National Fisheries Developments (NFD) in the Solomon Islands, a subsidiary of tuna giant Trimarine.
Registered in Honiara, it will operate alongside Solomon Emerald, Solomon Ruby, Solomon Pearl, Solomon Opal, and Solomon Jade in Solomon Islands waters.
The Nodosa yard has carried out a number of lengthening projects in recent years, including Falkland Islands trawler New Polar and Galician vessels Eirado do Costal, Villa de Marín, Río Caxil, Playa Menduiña Dos, Ana Gandón, Santo do Mar and Manuel Nores – but a fishing vessel coming to the yard to be shortened is a rarity.
