VESSEL REVIEW | Frøyanes – Ice-capable trawler/crabber for Norwegian Barents Sea fishing company

Norwegian fishing company Ervik Havfiske recently took delivery of a new shrimp trawler built to a design by naval architecture firm Marin Teknikk. The steel-hulled Frøyanes is outfitted as a triple-rig trawler that can also be utilised for catching snow crab in the Norwegian and Barents Seas.

"Ervik Havfiske wanted a combination of shrimp trawling and crab catching capability," Thomas Edvard Gjerde, Sales Manager Fish and Aqua at Marin Teknikk, told Baird Maritime. "The owner also wanted a vessel with a moonpool, which is a common feature on the longliners in its fleet."

The array of fishing equipment on Frøyanes includes conventional trawls and a large moonpool through which crab pots can be hauled on board. Moonpools that have proven effective in longliners are also confirmed to be useful in working with crabs, particularly in ensuring their gentle handling and protection from the elements for better catch quality. This also allows female crabs to be easily sorted out and released back into the sea so they can reproduce

The moonpool makes it possible for crabs to be hauled on board with little risk of damage to the lines and traps even as the vessel is sailing through ice. Also, since the area where the moonpool is located has a shelter, this provides a safe working area for crews.

"Arranging the vessel for both trawling and crab fishing was challenging," said Gjerde. "Traditional trawlers have unobstructed trawl decks, but there needed to be space for a large hatch for the moonpool. The solution we chose for the layout works as expected, and so the vessel has had no trouble trawling and crab catching."

Gjerde added that the placement of the moonpool had an impact on the layout on the vessel's factory deck, thus posing challenges related to logistics. However, this issue was also successfully resolved.

Versatile propulsion and processing arrangements

The DNV-classed, ice-capable Frøyanes has an LOA of 69.9 metres (229 feet), a beam of 17 metres (56 feet), a draught of 6.15 metres (20.2 feet), a depth of 9.25 metres (30.3 feet), a gross tonnage of 3,974, accommodations for 35 personnel, and a diesel-electric propulsion system that also includes heat recovery features. The onboard factory is optimised for processing both shrimp and crab while laboratory space is available for research and analysis purposes.

The propulsion arrangement includes a main engine that produces 5,220 kW (7,000 hp) at 750 rpm and a controllable-pitch propeller, a gearbox and two side 600kW thrusters provided by Brunvoll. Electrical power for the onboard systems is supplied by two Cummins generators while a Scania DI09 set is installed to serve as a backup.

"The vessel's operational profile has different stages, from high energy demand to low load," said Gjerde. "We arranged the engine setup in such a way that the vessel uses as little energy as possible. This feature, when combined with the optimised hull lines, ensures energy efficiency."

The deck equipment includes Ibercisa winches and cranes from Palfinger Marine. The selection of fishing gear consists of Fiskevegn pots and Selstad trawls while the factory deck features a freezer from Pam Refrigeration, Carsoe and Westmek processing facilities, a Motus crab hauling system, and Holmek palletising elevators.

The factory deck has been laid out so that the steam from crab cooking is reduced. A carefully planned production flow encapsulates the steam and prevents it from being released into the production spaces.

The crab processing line also includes butchering stations capable of grading and cleaning, freezing and glazing of up to 20 tonnes of crab legs a day. After processing, the crab products are sorted in a compact hotel solution with a complete automated sorting of the products. This means that each product/grade can be palletised separately for efficient handling once the ship reaches port.

The dual shrimp processing line includes bi-catch separators, and grading and cooking equipment. Two IQF freezers ensure efficient and uniform freezing of the cooked shrimp, with a capacity of 22 tonnes of IQF shrimp a day. Five vertical freezers meanwhile ensure a 20-tonne capacity for shrimp in blocks.

"Westmek and Carsoe equipped the vessel with factory facilities that are efficient and easy to clean," Gjerde told Baird Maritime. "This is important in preserving the quality of the catch."

Gjerde added that the catch is frozen within a maximum of four hours from the time it is brought on board. This helps preserve the quality of the product.

Enhanced comfort for operations in higher latitudes

The wheelhouse has BMA Technology consoles and cabinets. BMA Technology also supplied the vessel's power management and energy management systems.

The 35 crew and factory personnel will work in shifts to ensure continuous operation. The accommodation spaces include cabins, a mess, a day room, and a gym. The interiors have adequate lighting in anticipation of the vessel's operation during the winter months when daylight is reduced.