Gillnetter News

Record hauls of wild fish, an unprecedented return on farmed salmon, finance and subsidy garner new orders, new designs and emboldened suppliers. In Scandinavia, particularly Norway, rich, carefully managed fisheries raise just one question for the commercially minded — which wave of business to ride. A growing number of large and small players are in on the action, as historic profits are heralded up and down the supply chain. For the hardened makers of gear that know tougher times, this is the golden age.

Norway-headquartered vessel designer and builder Vard Holdings Limited announced it has secured a NOK 60 million contract for the construction of a coastal fishing vessel for Norway’s Breivik AS. The new gillnetter vessel will be built at Vard Braila in Romania and is scheduled to be delivered during the third quarter of 2016, securing work for the yard in all stages of production. The vessel is of the Seacon SC34 design and is equipped with a factory and freezing plant, Vard said.

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc, a Vigor Industrial Company, delivered the first of three new Bristol Bay boats. The new, top house design all-aluminum 32’ x 16’ jet propelled gillnetter is a product of the Kvichak design team and is powered by twin Volvo D11 EVEC-E engines rated for 510 BHP coupled to ZF 305-3 marine gears and  Hamilton HJ364 water jets providing a top speed of 35 knots. This new Kvichak design combines shallow draft capability with short transit times to the line, and the ability to maintain planning speed when partially loaded.

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc. announced the start of a production run of 32’ Bristol Bay Gillnetters for the 2015 season. This new, top house design all-aluminum 32’ x 16’ jet propelled gillnetter is a product of the Kvichak design team and will be powered by twin Volvo D11 EVEC-E engines rated for 510 BHP coupled to ZF 305-3 marine gears and  Hamilton HJ364 water jets. This fresh design will combine shallow draft capability with short transit times to the line, and the ability to maintain planning speed when partially loaded. The unique top house arrangement maximizes creature comforts while maintaining a large efficient working deck.

"Ava Jane", was launched in Washington state on April 15 as the first workboat with a MAN EPA Tier 3 commercially certified engine. Right in time, the German engine manufacturer made its entire product line conform with the current emission standards, by optimizing the internal engine design without increasing its fuel consumption at full load. RDI Marine, MAN’s west coast distributor has been heavily involved in the workboat industry since the early 90’s. They commissioned the installation on April 21…

Tyler Boats of Sedro Woolley launched its second 22-ft by 11-ft Seine Skiff. Powered by a John Deere 6081, 375 hp engine, this seine skiff is designed to pull. Helped by a 32-inch nozzle steering these skiffs have a pull measurement over 9,500 lbs. This pulling power is harnessed within a stable designed platform for the operator. The seine skiff is often described as the “weak link” in a purse seine operation. Bad weather, pulling against the tide, or just holding the set on the beach the role the Seine Skiff plays can keep you in the game.

Coast Guard boarding teams from the Coast Guard cutter Naushon and Coast Guard Stations Ketchikan and Juneau terminated the voyages of two fishing vessel and intercepted an intoxicated boater in Southeast. A Coast Guard cutter Naushon boarding team conducted a random safety boarding aboard the 32-foot fishing vessel Tsunami, based out of Seattle, Saturday in Clarence Strait. During the boarding it was discovered that the vessel had the correct number of survival suits onboard but two of them were unserviceable. The crew of the Naushon terminated the vessel’s voyage for safety reasons and escorted them to Nichol’s Passage where the Naushon was relieved by the 47-foot motor lifeboat and crew from Coast Guard Station Ketchikan who escorted the Tsunami’s crew into Ketchikan.