Boat review: Altaire LK 429
18th September 2023
State-of-the-art Karstensens build joins Shetland pelagic fleet
Karstensens Skibsvaerft handed over yard number 469, the 79.95m Altaire LK 429, to the Altaire Fishing Company on 29 June.
The new vessel, which was named in Skagen at the end of May, arrived home to Shetland on the morning of 1 July. Like her predecessor, her home port will be Collafirth at the north of the Shetland mainland, although her larger size means that she will probably need to berth in Lerwick at some times of the year.
Altaire’s crew, left to right: Jamie Stewart, Tom Ratter, Johnny Duncan, Sean Sparrow, skipper Chris Duncan, mate Colin Leask, Mark Davis, Sebastian Duncan, Jordan Johnson, chief engineer Ivan Ramsay and second engineer Bryan Gray.
After taking gear aboard in Lerwick, the new vessel started her fishing career by making a series of herring landings into Peterhead last month.
A drone’s-eye view of the new vessel. (Photo: Calum Gray)
The new Altaire replaces skipper Chris Duncan’s previous command of the same name, which was built by the Norwegian yard Havyard Solstrand in 2004. The new vessel will operate along the same pattern as the previous 76.43m vessel, pursuing a traditional pelagic trawl fishery targeting herring and mackerel.
The Altaire Fishing Company is owned by Interfish of Plymouth, skipper Chris Duncan and chief engineer Ivan Ramsay.
The superbly equipped galley…
Chris Duncan has described his new command as a ‘big upgrade’ on the previous Altaire. Despite being only 3.5m longer, the new vessel’s generous 17.5m beam means that she is around 30% bigger overall. The vessel will operate with a crew of 12. The new build continues the longstanding relationships between Karstensens and both Interfish and the Altaire Fishing Company. The previous Altaire visited the yard for repair and maintenance work for a number of years.
The new vessel has main dimensions of 79.95m LOA, length between perpendiculars 72.80m, breadth moulded 17.50m, depth to main deck 6.60m and depth to shelterdeck 9.30m. Tonnage is 3,863GT. Her 14 RSW tanks have a combined capacity of 2,935m2; fuel oil capacity is 595m2, and freshwater capacity 100m2.
Cook Johnny Duncan getting to grips with his enviable new workspace.
The vessel was designed in-house by Karstensens, and her bespoke design, specification and arrangements are the result of close and extensive co-operation between the owners and the yard. The design focus was on optimising working efficiency, safety and comfort for the crew, as well as improving catch handling and storage facilities, and reducing fuel consumption.
The hull for the new Altaire was built by Karstensen Shipyard Poland in Gdynia to Class DNV +1A Fishing Vessel E0 TMON; hull Ice-C. The hull was then towed to Skagen last November for outfitting.
The hull is built in steel with two continuous decks – main deck and shelterdeck – and long forecastle and boat decks. The wheelhouse, boat deck 2, funnel and masts are constructed from aluminium. The hull is of round bilge construction with a bulbous bow and stern skeg, flared stem and transom stern…
Read the rest of this article in full in the 14 September issue of Fishing News, click here to purchase this issue from just £2.50 or subscribe to Fishing News from just £1.00 an issue here.
