Fishing News Awards: Over-15m Boat of the Year Shortlist

The Fishing News Awards’ Over-15m Boat of the Year award celebrates innovation and excellence in the build and facilities of a new or significantly rebuilt vessel of over 15m that entered service in the UK or Irish fleets in 2023. It will be judged by an expert industry panel.

Find out the shortlist here…

Daystar FR 86

This striking new 25m twin-rigger, for Fraserburgh prawn skipper Stephen West, was built by Parkol Marine Engineering to an SC McAllister & Co design. Priorities for the new build included comfort and safety for the live-aboard crew, as well as greater fuel efficiency, with a Mitsubishi main engine coupled to a Heimdal gearbox to drive the 2,780mm-diameter propellor. The deck machinery came from Bopp, Thistle Marine and EK Marine.

Copious LK 985 and Prolific LK 986

Identical sisterships for 60 North Fishing (Shetland), headed by skipper Mark Anderson, the 24.9m stern trawlers Copious and Prolific were built at the Croatian Tehnomont Shipyard to plans prepared by Macduff Ship Design. The vessels, skippered by Andrew White and Mark Anderson, have bespoke deck machinery layouts designed to enable rapid switching between single-net trawling, twin-rigging and pair-trawling, and advanced fish- handling systems designed to cool catches as quickly as possible and maximise catch quality. The vessels feature Mitsubishi main engines and Rapp MacGregor deck machinery.

Enterprise III BF 1

Built by Danish yard Vestværftet for Whitehills skipper James W Lovie, this impressive new 28.67m twin-rigger completed a trio of new vessels for the Lovie family, fishing out of Kinlochbervie. With a bespoke design tailored to the challenging conditions of the North Atlantic, the vessel set out to improve on speed, fuel efficiency, seakeeping and crew comfort. It features an ABC main engine and a MacGregor deck machinery package along with a fish-handling system from VCU.

Admiral Gordon PH 330

The biggest beam trawler to be built in the UK in 30 years, this 27.3m vessel was designed by SC McAllister and built by Parkol Marine Engineering for Interfish of Plymouth. Fuel efficiency, coupled with reduced seabed contact when towing, were key factors in the design of Dave Shimell’s new command. The vessel features a Mitsubishi main engine and Reintjes gearbox. The deck machinery package came from Luyt Group of Holland, while VCU supplied the catch-processing system.

Zenith BF 106

Sharing with Excel the distinction of being the first two IMO Tier III-compliant vessels, this low-emission 22.75m twin-rigger was built by Macduff Shipyards for Fraserburgh prawn skipper Mark Robertson and his sons Paul and Adam. A new hull form to decrease water resistance is paired with a wider beam, providing additional space on deck and in the fish- handling area. Caterpillar supplied the main engine, which is coupled to a Novga stern gear package to improve fuel efficiency.

Excel BF 110

Built by Macduff Shipyards for Fraserburgh skippers Derek and Phil Watt, this 19.99m twin-rigger will primarily target prawns. One of the UK’s first two Tier III-compliant builds, it features a bespoke deck machinery package fabricated by the yard and a Caterpillar/Novga propulsion package, delivering improved seakeeping, fuel efficiency and noise reduction. Home comfort for the live-aboard crew was a key criteria of the fit-out, and their ideas were incorporated into the design.

Altaire LK 429

Built by Danish yard Karstensens for the Altaire Fishing Company, this impressive new 79.95m midwater trawler has a generous 17.5m beam, making her around 30% bigger than her predecessor. The bespoke in-house design optimises crew safety and comfort, working efficiency, catch quality and fuel efficiency, based around a Wärtsilä propulsion package and Karmøy Winch deck gear.

Seraphim PD 170

This versatile twin-rigger, built by Parkol Marine Engineering for Peterhead father and son team Andrew and Joshua Buchan, was designed to be capable of handling large hauls of fish as well as prawns without any alterations to the set-up. Its innovative Z-shaped stern keeps the waterline length below 16.5m, while delivering a spacious vessel of 21.29m LOA. The vessel has a Mitsubishi main engine and deck gear from Thistle Marine, while the bespoke fish-handling system is from Seagate Fabrication.

Christina S FR 224

Another state of the art delivery from Danish yard Karstensens, this 77m midwater trawler was designed in-house for the North East Scotland partnership of Freedom Fish, Shannon Fishing and Peter & J Johnstone and is commanded by Fraserburgh skipper Allan Simpson. Combining energy efficiency, state of the art fish handling and storage facilities and an exceptionally high standard of fit-out, it features a Wärtsilä propulsion package and deck machinery from SeaQuest Systems.

The winners of the 2024 Fishing News Awards will be revealed in Aberdeen and on our social media channels on the evening of 8 May – and in a special feature in the 23 May issue of Fishing News. Book your tickets here.

Find out everything you need to know about the Fishing News Awards here