With the replacement of pelagic trawler Fagraberg by Shetland’s Serene, a newer and less worn vessel, Fuglafjørður-based Framherji’s fleet of fishing vessels is in for another upgrade within the next few months.
Framherji less than a year ago took delivery of the Høgaberg, a brand new pelagic trawler and purse seiner. In 2022, the company received freezer trawler Akraberg, the first vessel commissioned and built from scratch by Framherji. The fishing company also owns and operates two freezer longliners, Stapin and Jógvan I, in addition to owning half of the trawlers associated with Runavík’s seafood processor Faroe Origin.
The latest investments happen against the backdrop of a projected decline in the pelagic business for 2026, in result of unexpected recommendations for large-scale reduction of the total catch quota for key species.
Top performing trawler
As per Framherji managing owner Anfinn Olsen, the Serene will be delivered to Framherji within the first quarter of the new year.
“We will take over the Serene on March 1st and name her Fagraberg,” Mr. Olsen told news service Portal.fo. He added that the current, well-worn but still high performing Fagraberg will be sold in connection with the replacement.
“We’ve had some queries on Fagraberg although nothing tangible is on yet, however word has spread that we are in the process of replacing the vessel,” Mr. Olsen was quoted as saying.
“The current Fagraberg has served us well and therefore people are interested in the trawler,” he further noted.
The current Fagraberg, previously Krúnborg, was built in 1999 and has long been known as one of the best performing pelagic vessels of the Faroese fleet and beyond, in particular on blue whiting, having fished on average more than an astonishing 52,000 tonnes per annum for 25 years straight.
‘We remain optimistic’
The 82-meter long Serene, with a beam of 17.2 m, was built in 2018 by Skagen’s Karstensens Shipyard. The pelagic trawler has a 10,000-horse power MAN main engine and a hold capacity of 3,000 tonnes of refrigerated catch, similar to the current Fagraberg.
Although the Serene will be eight years old at the time of delivery to Framherji, the trawler is considered as good as new, owing to the fact that the Shetlanders only use their pelagic trawlers to a very limited extent compared to the Faroese, whose catch quotas are considerably larger.
Meanwhile the quotas for blue whiting and Atlantic mackerel are expected to be reduced significantly for the coming season. According to Mr. Olsen, the rather dramatic reduction of the catch quotas as recommended in the latest advisory report from ICES, was not part of the equation at the time of the signing of the purchase contract for the Fagraberg replacement.
“Of course we wouldn’t know that they would be recommending such drastic cuts for blue whiting and mackerel,” Mr. Olsen said. “Although this may present a challenge, the current Fagraberg is not getting any younger. Besides, catch quotas have fluctuated as long as memory serves, and we’re likely going have a year that will see the Faroese position weaken to some degree. However, Framherji holds a significant proportion of the Faroese catch quotas so we remain optimistic of the future despite the large catch reduction expected for blue whiting and mackerel in 2026.”
