New Norwegian Trawler Herøyhav Marks Technological Advancement

The Herøyhav was designed through close cooperation between the shipyard and the Ervik family, who have a long-standing relationship with Karstensens—having also commissioned the previous Herøyhav from the same yard in 2013. The newbuild’s hull was constructed by Karstensens Shipyard Poland in Gdańsk and finished at the Skagen facility with detailed involvement from skipper and owner Ronald Ervik and his wife, Marianne Vangsnes.

At 75 metres overall length and 16 metres in beam, Herøyhav is equipped for both trawling and purse seining. It features 11 RSW tanks with a combined capacity of 2,500 cubic metres, and an extensive vacuum system by C-Flow. The onboard fish handling and refrigeration systems have been engineered to maintain catch quality for blue whiting, herring, and mackerel—species targeted by the vessel across seasonal fisheries.

The trawler is powered by a 5,200 kW Wärtsilä main engine, supported by a 3,400 kW shaft generator and three Caterpillar auxiliary engines. The setup enables both mechanical and diesel-electric propulsion modes, optimised via a floating frequency system that allows RPM reductions of up to 17%—a significant measure for fuel savings and emission cuts.

A Wärtsilä ProTouch control system oversees propulsion, supported by advanced navigational electronics from Furuno, Marport, and Simrad. The vessel is also equipped with Starlink broadband and an Intellian T130N sat-TV system, reflecting the shipowner’s emphasis on comfort and operational efficiency.

With accommodation for a large crew, the ship includes individual en-suite cabins, a hospital, cinema, mess rooms, and a fully equipped galley with cold and dry stores. Sound insulation measures and layout design ensure noise levels in living areas remain under 55 dB(A) at 80% engine load, creating one of the quietest working environments in the fleet.

The ship also features an MOB boat with davit, two Viking life rafts, and a water-mist firefighting system from Survitec. Its steering system consists of a Kongsberg flap rudder and Tenfjord steering gear.

The deck is fitted with Evotec winches, including two 70-tonne trawl winches and dual 39-tonne purse seine winches, alongside SeaQuest fish pumps and Storm Cranes equipment for handling gear. The vessel’s layout features segregated workspaces and technical rooms across multiple watertight sections, offering redundancy and damage control in the event of onboard emergencies.

The wheelhouse aboard Herøyhav has been purpose-built to deliver ergonomic comfort, situational awareness, and operational control in demanding conditions. Centrally located with a commanding 360-degree view, the bridge offers clear sightlines to the deck, sea surface, and surrounding vessels—crucial for purse seining and trawling operations in congested or challenging waters.

Outfitted with a full suite of advanced electronics from Furuno, Simrad, and Marport, the wheelhouse integrates navigation, fishfinding, and communication systems across multiple workstations. A Furuno radar and ECDIS system sit alongside Simrad ES80 sounders, while Marport net monitoring gear provides real-time data on gear depth, spread, and catch flow—enabling the skipper to optimise fishing performance while minimising bycatch and seabed impact.

The bridge layout features a central skipper’s chair with wraparound control panels, touchscreens, and multifunction displays. Winch operations, propulsion control, and CCTV monitoring are integrated into the bridge console, ensuring seamless control of all deck activities from a single location. With electric blackout blinds, dimmable lighting, and acoustically treated surfaces, the wheelhouse has also been designed for crew wellbeing during extended trips.

Starlink broadband and dual VHF/UHF radio setups enhance vessel connectivity for both safety and fleet coordination. With bridge and engine room systems linked via Karstensens’ integrated automation network, the Herøyhav ensures precision control and data logging from haul to hold.

Classed by DNV to Ice-C standards, Herøyhav is fully equipped for demanding operations in the North Atlantic. Her anticipated work includes blue whiting trawling west of Ireland and purse seining for herring and mackerel in northern waters.

Karstensens described the final result as one both the shipyard and the family-owned company could be “very proud of”.