Hull freezer trawler Kirkella is alongside in its home port for the first time in three months following a trip that was doubled in length due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
After 90 days away, the crew of 30 are looking forward to time ashore after agreeing to extend their time at sea to prevent the ship becoming infected with coronavirus.
During its double trip off northern Norway, Kirkella encountered heavy seas and storm-force winds, and covered 6000 nautical miles during the two trips after travel restrictions and safety concerns made a crew change in Tromsø impossible.
Kirkella has remained Covid-free throughout.
‘We’re all massively looking forward to getting home. Kirkella is about the best fishing trawler there is to work on, but three months is a long time to be away and it will be very good to see Hull again,’ said first mate Mark McGorrin as Kirkella docked in Hull earlier this week.
Kirkella, which mainly fishes for cod and haddock in and around the Barents Sea, recorded a 3900 tonne liveweight of fish to produce 1376 tonnes of fillets over the two trips. To minimise risk, relief crew have been in quarantine in a hotel for two weeks.
Once fully supplied, Kirkella will head back to fishing grounds at the end of this week.
