Two new fishing vessels for Fraserburgh pelagic fleet
18th October 2023
The Klondyke Fishing Company has placed an order for a 75.80m replacement for the 2006-built Chris Andra FR 228 with Danish yard Karstensens. The Klondyke Fishing Company is owned by the Tait family of Fraserburgh, whose first new build was the wooden-hulled Fertile FR 305 in 1962. Brothers Andrew, Robert and Willie Tait developed their business with multiple new vessels during the 1970s and 1980s. Named after the brothers’ parents, the first Chris Andra, built in 1975, was at the time the biggest pelagic purse- seiner in the UK – and one of the most successful.
Today, three generations of the Tait family own and operate the 2005-built Challenge, the current Chris Andra and Taits, which was delivered in 2019.
The is the first order that the Tait family have placed with Karstensens, and the design of the new vessel is the result of extensive and close co- operation between the owners and the yard, with a focus on lower emissions, improved catch quality and working comfort, efficiency and safety for the crew.
Most of the major suppliers have already been chosen, with many reflecting the owners’ satisfaction with previous choices, including Bergen Engines and Karmøy Winch. The new Chris Andra is scheduled for delivery in July 2026.
A computer-generated image of the new 75.80m Chris Andra…
Meanwhile, Sunbeam Fishing Ltd has opted for the Norwegian yard Myklebust Verft for its new build.
Due for delivery in late 2025 or early 2026, the new 73m Sunbeam has been designed by Salt Ship Design. The current 57m Sunbeam FR 487 was built in 1999.
… and the new 73m Sunbeam.
“This is very pleasing for all of us at Myklebust,” said the yard’s CEO Kristin Hide. “We have been looking forward to bringing in a new build to our portfolio of projects, and this will give us greater stability in terms of orders. As part of this project, we have with us a number of local suppliers of both equipment and services from the maritime cluster.
“This vessel type is part of a fleet sector in which Myklebust has extensive experience, and we are really looking forward to getting started.”
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.30 here.
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