Franson Z-91: State-Of-The-Art New-Build Beamer

The new beam trawler from Dutch yard Damen Maaskant incorporates a range of design innovations that will be of interest to UK operators

The ABC main engine delivers 882kW to the 3,800mm four-bladed propellor through a 9.872:1 reduction gearbox.

Dutch shipyard Damen Maaskant recently delivered a new 38m beam trawler to Belgian owners in Zeebrugge. The hull, built in Poland, was towed to the Netherlands and fitted out in Stellendam.

The Franson Z-91, which replaces the similarly named Francine Z-90, a vessel that will be familiar to South West fishermen, and which prior to Brexit landed regularly into Milford Haven, was designed to address the same pressures being faced by skippers across the British Isles – reducing fuel bills and attracting professional crew.

Fish can be boxed and weighed under the processing deck, with only the very largest fish transferred by basket. Full information on the catch can then be relayed in real time to the auction.

Owner Eddie Cattoor told Fishing News: “I expect a lot from the Franson. We built her with crew comfort and safety in mind, with the aim of making her a pleasure to work on.”

“The world is changing, and hardworking professional crew deserve the best and most comfortable working environment that we can provide. I insisted from the start that the accommodation would be as good as possible. The boat is designed so that during normal operations all crew will have individual berths with fitted TV screens, and we have ensured that the galley fit-out is as comfortable as possible…”

The rest of this article can be found in the 25 November issue of Fishing News. Subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the 25 November single issue here for just £3.30!