VESSEL REVIEW | Asterix – Finnish-built crab boat with oil spill response capability

Finnish builder Kewatec Aluboat has delivered a new all-aluminium fishing vessel to owner Jim Nikolaisen of Honningsvag in northern Norway. The newbuild, which the owner named Asterix after a famed French comic book character, is designed primarily for net fishing and catching of king crabs in the fjords of that particular region of the country.

The vessel has a length of 10.99 metres, a beam of 4.7 metres, a displacement of 22 tonnes, and a fish hold that can accommodate up to twelve 1,000-litre boxes of catch for a total of 25 tonnes. The design is of an existing Kewatec workboat series with a strengthened hulls and a standard bow ramp that guarantees optimum loading and unloading of cargo without compromising performance under a broad range of sailing conditions.

A Scania D13 engine with an output of 298 kW drives a propeller via a ZF 325IV gearbox to deliver a speed of about 10 knots. A Whisperpower generator is also available to supply power to the onboard systems.

The boat has deck equipment consisting of a net hauler, a bleeding container, and a net storage bin needed for net fishing. It also has a hydraulic lifting beam for handling the traps used in catching king crabs. A hydraulic lift is also fitted in the bleeding container to ensure quicker and easier transfer of catch to and from the fish hold. The fishing equipment was provided by Lorentzen Hydraulikk.

The accommodations will enable a crew of three to stay out at sea for days, though regularly, the boat will be operated by only two people. Amenities include three berths in two cabins, a galley, a toilet, and a shower. The wheelhouse has a NorSap seat for the skipper.

The electronics suite meanwhile includes displays from Nogva and Neovo, navigation electronics from Simrad and Olex, and an emergency radio power panel from Retronic. Solhaug Skipselektro supplied the boat's searchlights while the navigation lights are from R. Stahl Tranberg.

Kewatec said Asterix will also be equipped for oil spill response duties, as Nikolaisen participates in oil spill response exercises a few times each year. The owner said that, in addition to being used for catching king crab, it will also fish for other species such as cod, saithe, and halibut.

Asterix was delivered to its new owner in January of this year by Martec, Kewatec's local partner in Norway.

Click here for more news and gear stories, feature articles, and vessel reviews as part of this month's focus on fishing and aquaculture.