VESSEL REVIEW | Frank Henry – UK fishers tap Spanish yard for new vivier crabber

Armon Shipyard of Spain has delivered a new vivier crab boat for UK husband-and-wife fishers and entrepreneurs Rick and Lyn Mitchelmore.

The newbuild, named Frank Henry, is the second Armon-built vessel to be delivered to the Mitchelmores following an interval of 19 years. The newer boat is an improved variant of the earlier Armon-built Edward Henry but with a slightly shorter LOA and an array of new features specified by the South Devon-based owners. Both Frank Henry and Edward Henry operate alongside three other vessels in the RJ & L Mitchelmore fleet in catching live crabs and other shellfish for eventual sale by Dartmouth Crab Company – also a business owned by the Mitchelmores – to customers in the UK, Europe, and the Far East.

Designed by Armon in compliance to UK Maritime and Coastguard agency standards, Frank Henry has an LOA of 22 metres, a moulded beam of 7.3 metres, and a draught of 3.15 metres. Power is provided by a Caterpillar C32 main engine with a rated output of 492 kW at 1,800 rpm driving a 1,800mm four-bladed, controllable-pitch propeller via a ZF X650 gearbox. A pair of Caterpillar C7.1 engines connected to 125kVa alternators supply electricity for the onboard systems while manoeuvrability is augmented by a 74kW, 500mm four-bladed bow thruster.

The electronics suite includes an autopilot from Navitron, VHF radios from Sailor, a Thrane satphone, and a radar plus other electronics supplied by Furuno. The vivier tank has a capacity of 45 cubic metres and a refrigeration system from Climafrio. This system is capable of maintaining tank temperature between minus 15 and zero degrees Celsius.

A Toimil Marine crane is fitted on the bow to aid in catch hauling and offloading. Also installed are searchlights from IBAKmarine. The crew spaces meanwhile include cabins with single beds and bunks, a mess with galley, and toilets.

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