HB Grandi bids out trawler construction, begins groundfish closure negotiations

Icelandic seafood company HB Grandi has issued an open invitation for bids on the construction of a new freezer trawler.

Designed by Rolls Royce in Norway, the new trawler will be 81 meters in length, have a 17-meter beam and a hold capacity of 1,000 metric tons (MT) of frozen products. 

The decision regarding the construction is expected to be made in early May with the new freezer trawler to arrive by the end of 2019.

HB Grandi said it has no further plans regarding the construction of new vessels for the time being. 

It currently owns and runs three freezer trawlers built between 1988 and 1992, four wet fish trawlers and two pelagic vessels.

Meanwhile, following HB Grandi’s recent announcement of its intention to close its groundfish processing operations in the port town of Akranes and to merge them with its Reykjavik operations, company representatives have held a consultation meeting with local employee unions. 

During the meeting, HB Grandi expressed its willingness to commence talks with the municipality of Akranes in accordance with a letter of intent sent from the municipality to the company. 

The parties will aim to conclude these talks as soon as possible, confirmed HB Grandi. 

Should this not produce a positive result then groundfish operations in Akranes are expected to close on 1 September 2017.

Around 270 people are currently employed by HB Grandi in Akranes, including 93 in groundfish processing.

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