October 2023
Featured Story | BOATS
The new Arctic Fjord
Catcher-processor built specifically for the Bering Sea pollock fishery features crew comforts and labor-saving innovation
by WESLEY LOY
The newly built Bering Sea catcher-processor Arctic Fjord moored in Seattle. Jeff Pond photo
The Arctic Fjord under construction at the Thoma-Sea shipyard in Louisiana. Facebook photo
The single-screw catcher-processor Arctic Fjord was specifically designed to harvest and process Alaska pollock from the Bering Sea. Jeff Pond photo
The Arctic Fjord wheelhouse. Photos from inside the vessel are courtesy of Arctic Storm Management Group.
The Arctic Fjord features labor-saving automation and attractive crew amenities. Jeff Pond photo
Filleting and skinning equipment in the Arctic Fjord fish-processing factory
The Arctic Fjord surimi factory
The fate of the old Arctic Fjord, seen here, remains undetermined. Jeff Pond photo
The 326-foot Arctic Fjord, built in Louisiana, arrived Aug. 8 at Seattle’s Pier 91, passing through the Panama Canal as part of its voyage.
The new Arctic Fjord is “the first new vessel for the wild Alaska pollock catcher-processor fleet to be built in the United States in over 30 years,” Seattle-based operator Arctic Storm Management Group said.
The replacement vessel is a supreme statement of faith in the future of the pollock fishery, among the largest fisheries by volume in the world.
“We’re very bullish on the wild Alaska pollock fishery,” Doug Christensen, Arctic Storm president and CEO, said in an interview with Pacific Fishing.
He said the fishery is well-managed, bracing for climate change, and “we’re pretty proud of our bycatch record.”
Finance and construction: Five families from the Seattle area make up a majority of the ownership in Arctic Storm Management Group. Christensen himself is an owner, and two companies hold minority interests: Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp. and South Korean company Oyang Corp.
Wally Pereyra, who helped pioneer the U.S. pollock fishery in the Bering Sea, is still active as Arctic Storm chairman.
Arctic Storm didn’t disclose the price tag for the new vessel.
Christensen said company ownership contributed “a tremendous amount of equity” toward the project, with AgWest Farm Credit and Wells Fargo providing bank financing.
Construction of the Arctic Fjord began in June 2018 at Thoma-Sea, a shipyard based in Houma, Louisiana.
Originally, delivery was expected in 2022, but some significant headwinds hit the project, including the coronavirus pandemic and Hurricane Ida, which hammered the bayou city of Houma in August 2021.
“And, it was an extremely complex undertaking,” Christensen said. “It just took longer than originally predicted. But the yard did a fine job of navigating. And so did our owners and the banks.”
Christensen said his company toured Europe looking at shipyards with an eye toward learning what a great yard should be.
“They did a fantastic job,” Christensen said.
The Arctic Fjord project involved many key players.
Kongsberg Maritime designed the new vessel specifically to operate in the Bering Sea. The parent company is headquartered in the town of Kongsberg, Norway.
Carsoe, a Danish company, designed and installed the onboard fish-processing factory.
Marine Interior Systems, of Covington, Louisiana, installed crew accommodations.
Swan Net USA supplied new trawl gear for the boat.
As for propulsion, the Arctic Storm has one main engine, a 9,300-horsepower Bergen diesel.
For its size, the new boat is fast. Its average speed during the voyage up to Seattle was 16.4 knots, and she has a maximum speed of 19.6 knots.
Workplace efficiency and crew comfort: The new Arctic Fjord has 152 bunks for everyone aboard, including captains, crewmen, processors, and fishery observers.
Much of the thinking that went into the boat centers on one word – efficiency.
It incorporates labor-saving innovation in packaging and cargo handling to make previously tough jobs easier. For example, machinery stacks product on pallets wrapped in plastic and sent by elevator down to cold storage equipped with forklifts. This automation means less hand stacking of boxes – and less chance of repetitive motion and other injuries.
Crew comfort and safety will see a big upgrade with this boat. To better shelter crew, the bow is covered and sloped to take weather – typical of European designs.
The crew has suite-style living spaces. All staterooms have TV and their own head. The boat has Wi-Fi throughout, and IPTV – Internet Protocol Television. The boat also features spacious galley and lounge areas and a fully equipped hospital facility.
All in all, the Arctic Fjord marks a major advance in the at-sea work environment, Christensen said.
Markets, and the old boat’s fate: Like other Bering Sea catcher-processors, the Arctic Fjord will produce a variety of products including fillet blocks, surimi, roe, fishmeal, and fish oil.
The company has other trawl vessels in its fleet including the workhorse catcher-processor Arctic Storm, the catcher boats Sea Storm and Neahkahnie, and the old Arctic Fjord.
The old Arctic Fjord, 272 feet long, was built in 1974. What will become of her?
Undecided, Christensen said.
Look inside the latest issue:
Salmon season wrapup:
A look at how Pacific salmon fisheries unfolded in 2023
Science: Rockfish in the rocks
Home | About | Contact | Classifieds | Advertise | Subscribe | Fish Wrap Archives
| 206.324.5644 | 941 Powell Ave. SW, Ste. 120, Renton, WA 98057 | © 2023 Pacific Fishing