Aker Seafoods sells trawler «Hekktind» to Russia

Aker Seafoods ASA continues the renewal of the trawler fleet and has made an agreement to sell the vessel «Hekktind» to a Russian company, reports http://www.megafishnet.com/ with reference to information disclosed by the company. However, the sale may have probably resulted from the fact that the trawler reportedly lost its licence earlier this year due to illegal fish dumping.

The sale amount is about NOK 46 million. The trawler's book value was about NOK 16 million per 31 May 2012. Delivery of the trawler is in the third quarter 2012.

The sale of «Hekktind» is part of the ongoing process regarding the renewal of the fleet. Earlier this year the vessel «Nordfjordtrål» was sold and will be delivered to the buyer in December 2012. «With the sale of the trawler  «Hekktind» Aker Seafoods is one step further in the process of renewing the fleet and preparing to phase in the new vessels in 2013. It is Aker Seafoods' goal to have an up-to-date trawler fleet that enables the company to obtain high catch rates, create attractive work-places and operate more cost-effective and environmentally friendly», says CEO Olav Holst-Dyrnes.

Aker Seafoods contracted in 2011 three new trawlers for delivery in 2013 and 2014. More of the trawlers in today's fleet have been or are planned to be upgraded and modernized. The trawler  «K.Arctander» has recently been rebuilt from a freeze trawler to also being able to deliver chilled fish in addition to frozen fish.