New Bedford, Massachusetts-based Blue Harvest Fisheries has refurbished, restored, and relaunched its vessel, Blue Water, the company announced on 2 December.
Blue Water now features state-of-the-art improvements that Blue Harvest says “set the standard for safe, sustainable fishing.” The scalloping vessel – one of eight purchased from the Peabody Corporation in 2015 – has been undergoing upgrades over the last two years, and now rejoins Blue Harvest’s fleet of 15 scallop vessels, which work the waters off of Fairhaven, Massachusetts and Newport News, Virginia.
“Over the last year, we’ve made major investments in the long-term future of our company and the fisheries we work in,” Blue Harvest President and CEO Keith Decker said. “Blue Water is just one more example of these investments, which will help make Blue Harvest a leader in the scallop fishery for years to come.”
Blue Water’s electronics, generators, and hydraulic systems were all updated during the restoration process, the company said, and its pair of 400 horsepower engines were rebuilt.
“These upgrades allow Blue Water to operate far more efficiently than older vessels, lowering operating cost and reducing the vessel’s overall carbon footprint,” the firm said in a press release. “The upgrades also include significant safety improvements, and the vessel’s interior was completely refitted to include quieter, more spacious rooms for the crews, to improve the workplace experience.”
The vessel will resume harvesting Atlantic sea scallops, Blue Harvest said. A new shucking house and an overhauled fish hold aboard the boat will allow for Marine Stewardship Council-certified scallops to be shucked at-sea for direct offloading and processing at the company’s SQF-certified facility in New Bedford.
Blue Water is the latest revamped vessel for Blue Harvest – earlier this year, the firm announced the launch of three refitted groundfishing boats.
Photo courtesy of Blue Harvest Fisheries
