VESSEL REVIEW | Seingen – Hybrid catamaran seiner for Norwegian waters

Norwegian shipbuilder Mundal Båt has handed over a new seine fishing vessel to local family-owned company Sjøliv. The catamaran vessel Seingen replaces an older boat of the same name that the owners acquired from Mundal Båt in 2020.

The newbuild is notable for being one of the few catamaran fishing boats currently in operation in Norway (as majority of the catamarans in the Norwegian fishing industry are workboats that support the operations of salmon and trout harvesters).

Lower surface resistance coupled with a long service life

The newbuild measures 14.99 metres (49.18 feet) long and 9.4 metres (31 feet) wide and has space for a crew of four. A catamaran design was selected as the owner believed it offered greater deck space and stability was more efficient than a monohull in slicing through the water. The twin hulls, which have a projected lifespan of 70 years, are also narrow enough to permit the boat to reach a top speed of 14 knots and a fully laden cruising speed of 10 knots.

Power is provided by a hybrid propulsion arrangement consisting of two Scania DI9 diesel engines, two 50kW electric motors, a 378kWh battery, and manoeuvring thrusters and a steering system from Sleipner. The vessel can run on diesel only mode to attain high cruising speeds, fully electric mode for lower emissions, or hybrid mode wherein the battery will augment the engines to deliver higher speeds.

The engines are fed by a 6,000-litre (1,300-gallon) fuel tank. Another 6,000-litre tank will be used to store fresh water.

The vessel has a total fishroom capacity of 70 cubic metres (2,000 cubic feet). There is a 26-cubic-metre (920-cubic-foot) hold in each of the catamaran hulls (which also house the main engines) while an 18-cubic-metre (640-cubic-foot) hold is incorporated on the main deck. The deck equipment including the drums, cranes, and winches are from Lofoten Hydraulikk while MMC First Process provided the vacuum system.

Composite construction allowing for reduced energy requirements

The hull is of composite sandwich material, which was selected for its lower weight, improved resistance to corrosion, and better insulation compared to FRP, steel or aluminium. Because of the improved insulation, the onboard generator need not produce as much power to provide heat for the interiors and cooling for the tanks.

The onboard facilities includes two single cabins, a double cabin, a mess, a galley, a lounge, and a common toilet. The interior spaces including the engine compartments allow for full standing height for ease of access and maintenance.

Seingen will focus on demersal species such as cod, haddock, and saithe off the coast of Finnmark county in northern Norway. Design work on the vessel was undertaken by Mundal Båt subsidiary Maritime Engineering.