The third of HB Grandi’s new fresher trawlers has arrived in Iceland, bringing to an end the long series of newbuilds for the company, all of them delivered by the Celiktrans yard in Turkey.
The final trawler, Viðey, docked in Reykjavík following the two-week delivery trip from Turkey and the following day a reception was held to christen the new trawler formally, with Rannveig Rist, the deputy chair of the HB Grandi board, cracking the traditional champagne bottle agains the new trawler’s steel plates to send it on its way.
HB Grandi CEO Vilhjámur Vilhjálmsson welcomed guests and the country’s new fisheries minister Kristján Thór Júlíussson give a welcoming speech, congratulating the company on the delivery of its new vessels.
Líf Magneudóttir, chair of the Reykjavík city council, also congratulated HB Grandi in her speech and commented that it is entirely fitting that the new trawlers are delivered as Reykjavík’s old port celebrates its centenary.
The three new Nautic-designed fresher trawlers Engey, Akurey and Viðey have all been delivered by Celiktrans over a roughly twelve-month period and replace older trawlers Ásbjörn, Sturlaugur H Böðvarsson and Ottó N. Thorláksson, each of which has approximately forty years of fishing for HB Grandi behind it.
The first of the three new trawlers, Engey, has been fishing successfully since its catch handling deck was fitted by Skaginn 3X in Akranes. Akurey is about to start fishing now that its installation is approaching completion and Viðey will now be making the short trip across the bay to Akranes for its processing deck to be installed.
