A PURSE seiner just converted into Iceland's largest longliner is the first to be fitted with Vaki-DNG's new SV-16 line hauler designed for larger vessels.

Elias Bjarnason of the Icelandic company Vaki-DNG, which is taking part in FISHING 2003, tells FNI that the ship Agust has been fitted with its electrically-driven hauler. The company claims that it hauls in a more gentle way than conventional hydraulic haulers.

"This reduces the amount of fish lost from the line and the chances of parting the line in bad weather. The hauler is controlled by one of our LineTec systems which monitors and controls the line tension and hauling speed, " FNI is told.

"We have had a lot of interest in this new hauler and we have already seen that people are waiting to see how Agust's hauler performs."

The automatic hauling hatch in her starboard side is also from Vaki-DNG.

As well as the Vaki-DNG equipment on board, Agust is also fitted with a Mustad automatic baiting machine and a line handling package for 42,000 hooks.

Agust is using 9 mm Dyrkorn swivel longline. The vessel is also expected to be able to operate as a netter when required.

Icelandic company Thorbjorn Fiskanes has taken delivery of the former purse seiner previously named Gullfaxi.

Now named Agust, at 53 metres she is now the largest longliner on the Icelandic register.

Agust went to the Nordship yard in Gdynia, Poland, for her conversion and the yard is represented in Iceland by BP Shipping.

Built in Norway in 1974 as Gullberg, she has been a successful purse seiner, trawler and netter for a number of owners through the years, but Thorbjorn Fiskanes took the decision to carry out a major refit to convert her to a dedicated longliner.

Bjorgvin Olafsson of BP Shipping tells FNI that Agust went through a substantial refit, with all of her purse seining deck equipment and hydraulics being removed, longitudinal bulkheads taken out in the fishroom and on the 'tween deck. Also, the main and shelterdecks were strengthened to provide free space for the fishroom and processing areas.

"We also widened the deckhouse on the starboard side, enlarged the crews' changing room, installed a new deck crane on the main deck and fitted a large new window in the wheelhouse with a full view over the hauling position, " Bjorgvin Olafsson tells FNI.

"A new bilge system was fitted, the propeller and engine were overhauled and the whole vessel sandblasted and painted. A new bait store was installed and the new pump station and refrigeration system is from Frysti- og Kaelithjonustan here in Iceland, " Bjorgvin Olafsson reports.

Her fishroom has been fitted out to take 480 tubs and a Liquid Ice slurry ice system has been installed. Handling equipment for the fish is being made by ThorbjornFiskanes' own workshops in Grindavik."

"This was a complex project for the yard in Poland and it did a great job, " Bjorgvin Olafsson adds.

"The refit was completed on time, in spite of harsh winter conditions often with temperatures outside of -17degreesC."

News

Deep-fishing electric hauler on longliner