A new beam trawler being built for West Flemish owner Rederij Long Ships has been floated out in Gdansk, Poland.
The 38-metre Franson is currently being transported to Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam in the Netherlands for further outfitting.
Damen said the trawler is of a new design that features the maximum tonnage and length permitted by the Belgian Maritime Inspectorate. The vessel has also been further modified to ensure a 12 per cent increase in bollard pull during trawling.
The latest addition to the Rederij Long Ships fleet will replace an older vessel. Once operational, it will be used to fish year-round in the waters of the North Sea and the Skagerrak as well as in the Bay of Biscay during the summer months.