A wide range of new boats have entered service this year. This extremely positive trend highlights growing confidence based on healthy stock levels and strong market demand. Twelve of the new boats delivered so far this year, which readers can now nominate for Boat of the Year Award in the Fishing News Awards 2018 are summarised below. Details of another selection of new builds will be given in ‘New boats of 2017 – Part 2’ in Fishing News soon.

Daystar FR 86

Above: Daystar FR 86

The 23.95m LOA twin-rig prawn trawler Daystar was built for Fraserburgh skipper Stephen West by Parkol Marine Engineering and entered service in January. The first of a new design from SC McAllister & Co Ltd, Daystar is powered by a Mitsubishi S6R2-T2 main engine (476kW @ 1350rpm) driving a 2500mm-diameter propeller through a Reintjes WAF 474L 7.476:1 reduction gearbox. A Cummins QSL9 auxiliary engine drives the main hydraulic system via two Kawasaki load-sensing pumps.

Boy Andrew WK 170

Boy Andrew WK 170

Vestværftet ApS of Hvide Sande handed over the 27.5m seine-net vessel to Wick skipper Andrew Bremner in February. Up to 20 coils of 44mm seine-net rope can be worked from the automated power reels set into the full-length shelterdeck, where catches are bagged aft at the starboard quarter. The seiner’s propulsion package includes a Caterpillar 3508C main engine (577kW @ 1200rpm) Mekanord 450HS 6.47:1 reduction gearbox and a Korsør 2500mm-diameter four-bladed propeller.

Steadfast Hope BF 340

Steadfast Hope BF 340

Since being handed over to skipper Zander Nicol of Nichol Fishing LLP Gardenstown, the 24m Steadfast Hope has shown her versatility by pair-seining and twin-rig trawling from Peterhead. A comprehensive catch-handling system that includes 17 selection bins and six integral washers ensures optimum levels of catch quality for both prawns and whitefish. Steadfast Hope is powered by a Caterpillar C32 main engine (491kW @ 1800rpm) driving a 2500mm-diameter propeller through Masson Marine 9.077:1 reduction gearbox.

Onward WD 311

Onward WD 311

Onward breaks new ground by not only being the largest GRP static-gear catamaran built to-date in the UK, but is the first to feature a full-length shelterdeck. Of 14.95m LOA and 7m of beam, the semi-displacement hull was designed and built by Sutton Workboats of Newhaven for the Kinsella Fish Company Ltd of Wicklow. Rigged for pot self-hauling and shooting at the starboard quarter, Onward is fitted with twin Iveco FPT N67 propulsion units and two Isuzu auxiliary engines.

Soph-Ash-Jay 2 LH 60

Soph-Ash-Jay 2 LH 60

Built in Iceland by Trefjar Ltd for Burnmouth shellfish skipper John Affleck, the Cleopatra Fisherman 40 fast potter Soph-Ash-Jay-2 has the distinction of being the first new fishing vessel in the UK fleet to feature a Seakeeper 5 computer-controlled gyroscope stabilisation system, designed to eliminate up to 90% of boat roll. Delivering 441kW @ 2300rpm the FPT C13 12.9-litre main engine gives the fast potter a cruising speed of 14-15 knots and a top speed of 21 knots.

Pathway PD 165

Pathway PD 165

Designed and built by Karstensens Shipyard, for Lunar Fishing, the 78.75m Pathway is rigged for both purse-seining and midwater trawling. Two separate pumping systems enable catches of trawled fish to be taken aboard aft at the port quarter and pursed fish amidships on the starboard side. Powered by a Wärtsilä 9L32E2 main engine (5220kW at 750rpm) coupled to a matching two-speed gearbox, Pathway can also operate in full electric drive at 11 knots.

CFL Hunter FK 1601

Pathway PD 165

Consolidated Fishing Ltd took delivery of the 59.5m longliner CFL Hunter in March from the Nodosa Shipyard, Spain. Using an umbrella longline system, CFL Hunter fishes MSC-accredited Patagonian toothfish in the Falkland Island’s EEZ in the South Atlantic. Custom-designed for quiet running, so as not to attract whales, the vessel features a diesel-electric propulsion system in which four 550kW Yanmar engines supply power to two 695kW propulsion motors to drive a single propeller via a Reintjes gearbox.

Kindred Spirit LT 1048

Kindred Spirit LT 1048

C Toms & Son Ltd built the 13m twin-rig trawler Kindred Spirit at its Polruan boatyard for R & B Klyne of Lowestoft. Trawling activities are focused on a three-drum winch mounted on the main deck amidships, three single net drums mounted within the upper section of the stern gantry above the level of the shelterdeck, and two codend Gilsons. Kindred Spirit features a Volvo Penta D13 main engine, ZF 5.95:1 reduction gearbox and a Volvo D5 generator set.

Grateful FR 249

Grateful FR 249

Built by Karstensens Shipyard for Fraserburgh skipper William Whyte and Eshcol Fishing Company, the 69.95m midwater trawler Grateful is the first vessel in the Scottish fleet to boost a retractable thruster with the capability to work as a drop-down Azimuth, functioning as a take-me-home device, or when dodging into heavy weather or pumping pelagic fish at the stern. Grateful is powered by a MaK 9M32C main engine coupled to a Scan Volda 2-step gearbox.

Venture III BF 326

Venture III BF 326

Of 29.87m LOA and 10.5m of beam, skipper Mark Lovie’s twin-rig whitefish stern trawler Venture III is the biggest boat built to-date by Macduff Shipyards. It incorporates a number of new ideas, including hydraulically-operated towing blocks that can be moved up to 1200mm longitudinally from the stern position. Venture III features twin stern ramps and an advanced catch-handling system. A Mak 8M20 main engine drives a 3100mm-diameter propeller through a Mekanord 6.47:1 reduction gearbox.

Victory Rose WY 34

Victory Rose WY 34

Parkol Marine Engineering handed over the 26m pair-seiner Victory Rose to Lockers Trawlers in August. A large pair-seine winch is located on the main deck forward. Two more split trawl winches are mounted on the shelterdeck abaft the wheelhouse for use when single boat trawling. Victory Rose is powered by a Mitsubishi S6R2 main engine (480kW @ 1350rpm) driving a 2500mm-diameter propeller through a Reintjes 7.476:1 reduction gearbox. Load-sensing hydraulic pumps are driven from a Mitsubishi S6B3 auxiliary engine.

Faithlie FR 220

Faithlie FR 220

Fraserburgh skipper Davie Milne started fishing in August with the 27.5m pair-seiner Faithlie, built by Vestværftet ApS at Hvide Sande, Denmark. Two power reels are located on the shelterdeck forward of two split net drums. Catches are taken aboard centrally at the transom before being delivered forward to a highly-automated whitefish handling and catch management system. Faithlie’s engineroom machinery includes a Caterpillar 3508C main engine, Mekanord 6.47:1 reduction gearbox, and two Volvo D7A auxiliary engines.

Read more about the Fishing News Awards 2018 here, or get nominating in the 13 categories available here

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