Longliner Sævík left Iceland last year and was towed to Gdansk, emerging as a practically new fishing vessel ready to replace one of operating company Vísir’s older longliners.
Built in Norway in 1975, Sævík had been through several owners over the years and had ended up stripped of equipment and machinery, on the hardstanding next to the shipyard in Njarðvík in south-western Iceland when the decision was taken to use the hull of this veteran as the basis of an extensive refit.
The Alkor yard in Gdansk has almost completely rebuilt the vessel, including adding a new 4.60 metre section to its length and replacing much of the original steelwork. Now renamed Sighvatur GK-57, it has returned to Iceland, where its catch handling equipment is to be fitted before starting fishing.
The 38.11 metre overall by 8.20 metre beam longliner has been lengthened to 48.20 metres with the addition of a new mid section and largely rebuilt stern section. A new aluminium wheelhouse and fore mast have been fabricated by the yard. The technical documentation was handled by Icelandic naval architect Navís and Alkor dealt with the workshop drawings.
Large sections of the pre-existing structure were removed and a new steel deckhouse and forward steel deckhouse have been fitted, along with the midships shelter deck having been lifted. The Alkor workforce fabricated and mounted all new hatch coamings in stainless steel with aluminium hatch covers. The entire piping, ventilation and electrical systems have been replaced, with approximately 33,000 metres of new cabling installed.
Sighvatur’s fishroom and catch handling areas have been stripped out and fitted with new insulation and Fibo-Trespo waterproof lining. The accommodation areas have been completely refitted.
Vísir sourced the equipment fitted to Sighvatur as part of the refit, including the Caterpillar 3512 main engine and the C9.3 gensets, the Mekanord reduction gear, Becker rudder and steering gear. The pumps, bow thruster and Palfinger deck crane were supplied via Icelandic company Atlas, which also represents Alkor on the Icelandic market.
Electrical installations were prepared by Raftíðni in Iceland and fitted at the yard, and the wheelhouse electronics are all supplied by Skiparadío. The longline system is largely from Mustad.
It was during the final stages of the refit that the Sævík name was replaced with the Sighvatur name and the GK-57 registration, while the older Sighvatur has been re-numbered GK-357 and is expected to be laid up pending a decision of what to do with it.
According to Vísir’s managing director Pétur Hafsteinn Pálsson, he is highly satisfied with the vessel, which is virtually a new ship, and the work carried on board has been finished to an exemplary standard. He added that Sighvatur performed well on the delivery trip from Gdansk to its home port in Grindavík and the crew are happy with the ship.
The Alkor yard is currently constructing a new longliner for Vísir which will replace another of the company’s older vessels, Páll Jónsson when it is delivered next year, and there is an option for a second newbuild.
