New Zealand deep-sea fishing company Sealord has confirmed it is to make a NZD 70 million (USD 50.8 million, EUR 45.6 million) investment in its fishing fleet with the purchase of a new state-of-the-art vessel.
Sealord CEO Steve Yung said Sealord’s shareholders, Maori-owned Moana New Zealand (Aotearoa Fisheries Limited) and Japanese company Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd. (Nissui), have committed to the vessel purchase, which they will part-fund.
“This will be the first new vessel for the country’s deepwater fishery in 20 years, since the introduction of Sealord’s FV Rehua, and the backing of our shareholders is clear demonstration of their long-term commitment to the business and support of our commercial and operational strategies,” he said.
Whaimutu Dewes, chairman of Sealord, said that with Sealord’s vision to be “the best deep-sea fishing company in New Zealand,” this investment in the reliability, efficiency and increased capacity to the fleet was essential.
The purpose-built vessel will increase the company’s fishing capacity by 20,000 metric tons (MT), and will be the business’ most advanced, efficient, versatile and sustainable vessel, the company said. The vessel will process its catch while at sea.
While allowing more flexible and efficient operations, the new vessel would also mean up to 80 new local jobs once delivered in 2018, the company said.
“It will be able to fish all Sealord’s target species, including pelagic fish such as barracouta, squid and jack mackerel – something we’ve previously only been able to do through chartering vessels,” said Yung.
In keeping with the company’s ongoing commitments to sustainability and technology development, the vessel will also be equipped with new Precision Seafood Harvesting and other fishing technologies to ensure the most sustainable outcomes.
Naval architect Skipsteknisk has designed the vessel, with the contract for building and furnishing the vessel awarded to Simek in Flekkefjord, Norway.
