VESSEL REVIEW | Hogaberg – Versatile purser/trawler built for Faroe Islands waters

Framherji, a Faroe Islands-based, family-owned fishing company, recently took delivery of a new combination purse seiner and trawler built by Karstensens Skibsværft of Denmark.

The 87.8-metre (288-foot) long Høgaberg replaces an earlier vessel of the same name. The vessel design, specifications, and arrangements are the result of an extensive and close cooperation between the owner and the yard where all solutions are optimised and tailor made to suit the owner’s and crew’s specific requirements.

Designed for safety and efficiency during extended operations

The design and construction focused mainly on optimising working, safety and comfort for the crew, streamlining of catch handling and storage facilities, and minimising fuel consumption.

The hull is built in steel with three continuous decks. The wheelhouse, the boat decks, the funnel, and the masts are built in aluminium. The hull shape is of round bilge construction with a bulbous bow and stern skeg, a vertical wave-piercer, and a transom stern.

Below deck three, the hull is subdivided into the following watertight compartments: forepeak, sonar room, azimuth thruster room, insulated RSW tank section with 15 tanks and central RSW pump and manifold room; engine room with two main engines connected to one reduction gearbox with one, ducted propeller; and aftpeak with fuel and lube oil tanks.

On deck two, the hull is arranged into the following compartments: forepeak, azimuth thruster room, store room, RSW hold/trunk section with central corridors, forward containing vacuum tank room, and midship RSW machinery room. Abaft the hold section is the starboard engine workshop and engine store, the port side engine control room with engineers changing room, and the switchboard room. Abaft this are the central trawl/net storage tanks and port side trawl stores.

Located on deck three are the upper forepeak, the generator room, and the RO plant room. Abaft this space is a fully enclosed loading deck with a centre deckhouse and an RSW control room. There are also two off-water separators and a loading pipe connected to each RSW tank. The crew spaces here include a wellness room, a laundry area, and two cabins with en suite facilities as well as stairways and corridors.

On deck one, the arrangement has five forepeak stores, six stores, and roll damping tanks. Abaft of this is the pursing deck with two purse winches. The deckhouse meanwhile fully shelters the water separators in addition to feature five crew cabins, a hospital, an oil skins room, a changing room, a coffee bar, stairways, and corridors.

Full fishing and deck equipment suite

Abaft the superstructure is a large trawl deck with two net drums in a waterfall arrangement and a purse net bin recessed into the deck. At the transom are a hydraulic stern gate and hydraulically operated guiding pins. On the sides of the trawl deck are the trawl deck store and workshops.

On the forecastle deck are two anchor winches with mooring drums in a dedicated house together with mooring equipment. Abaft the deck house are two off trawl winches, a fish pumping station, and MOB deck, and a davit.

Integrated in the boat deck are a trawl gallow, which accommodates two main towing blocks as well as a tail-end block, and two off net sounder winches. The facilities in the deckhouse include a mess, a day room/lounge, a galley with provisions room and separate freezer rooms, and a toilet.

On boat deck two, the deck house contains seven officers’ cabins with en suite toilets/showers, an instrument room, a laundry area, and a hospital.

Flexible propulsion machinery setup

In order to create the best possible design for low noise, the accommodation is located as far away from the propeller as possible. In addition, a number of constructive steps were made in order to create a low noise level. During trials, noise measurements showed levels well below any requirements and recommendations.

The vessel is fitted with two Bergen 3,600kW (4,800hp) main diesel engines connected to one reduction gearbox and driving one propeller. A 2,300kW shaft alternator is fitted to the front drive of each main engine. To supply additional electrical power, the vessel is fitted with Caterpillar C18 and C32 auxiliary generators and a Corvus Orca Energy 1,100kWh battery pack.

During heaving/shooting operations when the winch system is in use, the shaft alternators will be engaged, and electrical power will be supplied from here. When there is demand for full power on the winches, there will normally not be same demand for power on the propulsion system. Following the main engine will be the power source for both the propulsion and the hydraulic system.

All electrical power systems are controlled by the vessel’s DEIF power management system. Further on, a bus-bar breaker is fitted in the main switchboard, allowing the aft thrusters to be fed off the shaft alternator and the forward thruster and the vessel’s hotel load to be fed off the diesel generators.

The electrical power system is fitted for sliding frequency (60-50 Hz) by means of frequency converters for 400/440 V and UPS clean power static supply/converter for 230 V. This will allow the main engine and propeller rpm to be reduced by 17 per cent.

Høgaberg was designed and built in compliance with DNV class rules. Construction took place at the Gdansk facilities of Karstensens Shipyard Poland.