Fish is becoming an increasingly popular food, and fishing vessels are being adapted to meet the new market opportunities. A modern fishing vessel is an advanced ship that often costs far more than NOK 100 million. Their owners and crews have an impressive ability to adapt and reorganise their operations. This industry is full of people with plenty of ideas and energy.

“Class is important, especially in slumps when it’s tempting to drop essential maintenance work,” says Tummas Justinussen, managing director of Sjóborg Sp/f in Leirvik, the Faroe Islands.

Ivan Ulsund’s Trønderbas is one of the biggest, most profitable seine netters in Norway.

In August, the Nor-Fishing 2006 trade fair in Trondheim, Norway, presented the latest innovations in this increasingly important industry. Visitors from all over the world attended the five days’ exhibition and conferences.

Also in Taiwan
DNV classifies 700 fishing vessels, most of them operating under the harsh weather conditions in North Atlantic waters. But fishing vessels are of course also built and operated elsewhere, among them a number of advanced vessels under construction in Taiwan for Canadian and Icelandic owners.

Same price as a tanker
DNV Nordic countries’ regional manager Odd Torset, who comes from one of Norway’s most important fishing areas, underlines this industry’s importance to DNV: “The large number of fishing vessels we classify tells you something about our experience of such vessels. New fishing boats sometimes cost almost as much as large tankers and often have more of a crew.

Increased focus on safety
“Due to the fact that fishing vessels are increasing in size and complexity, DNV sees the necessity of increasing this industry’s focus on safety. By offering inspections and certification to fishing vessels, DNV will meet the future requirements of increased safety and formal certification for all shipping companies that own and operate fishing vessels,” says Torset. DNV followed up with a seminar on Safety Certificates for Fishing Vessels.
DNV’s services to the fishing industry goes beyond classification and includes quality assurance of fish.

“Class is important”
Tummas Justinussen is the CEO of Sjóborg Sp/f in Leirvik, a shipping company that owns four large trawlers which fish off East Greenland, Newfoundland and Svalbard.

Sjóborg’s ships are classified by DNV. This shipping company has developed its own IT system for planning and improving its ship maintenance. However, this system does not make a classification society superfluous.
“Class is important, especially in slumps when it’s tempting to drop essential maintenance work,” says Tummas Justinussen.

Fewer interruptions – higher value
“Class stands for quality and safety,” says Bernt Ulsund, the head of the Ivan Ulsund shipping company. This company’s flag ship, the MS Trønderbas, is one of the biggest, most profitable seine netters in Norway.
“The DNV inspectors keep us in order and find mistakes. That costs money, but we recover it. There are fewer interruptions to our operations and, if you’re going to sell at some time in the future, the ship has a higher market value.”