M/tr Avataq unloads record catch
The latest addition to Royal Greenland’s fishing fleet, M/tr Avataq, has recently unloaded a record catch of 903 tons of cold-water prawns in Sisimiut, Greenland – the biggest catch ever in a single trip and a record in the history of fishing in Greenland.
Avataq joined Royal Greenland’s fleet in January 2020 as the largest vessel to date in Greenland with a haul capacity of 2850 m3 and with the ability to fish for both cold-water prawns and Greenland halibut. With the amount of space available, it was a matter of time, before the trawler would land much more than the usual 400-500 tons per trip for a vessel.
“The trip started on April 25th and during the 3 weeks at sea, we fished a total of 903 tons cold-water prawns that we are now unloading here in Sisimiut for further processing. I am very proud of my crew. They have worked very hard on this trip and are also very proud of this accomplishment. It makes us all proud to contribute to the Greenlandic society like this and be a part of creating more export and more jobs.”, says Jógvan Tróndarson, captain onboard the M/tr Avataq.
Greenland has in general experienced an increase in the number of larger fishing vessels over the past couple of years, where Royal Greenland has contributed with M/tr Sisimiut in September 2019, Avataq in January 2020 and – via part ownership in Ice Trawl A/S – the prawn trawler Nataarnaq will follow in a year. A common denominator for all three new vessels from Royal Greenland is the amount of thought and planning that the crews have contributed with to the design of the vessel as a modern and functional workplace, that saves time and optimizes work routines.
“With the new trawlers, we are saving both time, energy and ressources.”
The many optimizations have resulted in vessels built for the future in the sense that they deliver significant upgrades on all relevant parameters and one of the many positive consequences is the option of longer trips at sea. By minimizing on the unloading process, the vessels can stay longer at sea and save both time and resources on the commute and fuel consumption. Despite the longer trips at sea, the crew onboard Avataq has welcomed the new working conditions;
“We have put great effort into the safety and working conditions on deck and in the factory. With more space and better equipment, the result is a better work environment onboard. The crew has adapted well to the longer trips at sea and with both better working conditions and better options for the leisure time, I think they are both happy and content with the new situation.”, says Jógvan Tróndarson with a smile on his face.
The added space onboard Avataq allows for extra passengers - here two lovebirds are taking a break onboard the trawler.
