Berlin NC 107 christened in Cuxhaven

The new trawler, built for Deutsche Fischfang-Union (DFFU) by renowned Norwegian shipbuilder VARD, was delivered at the end of February after a meticulous two-year design and construction process and set sail on its maiden voyage just a week later. The investment in the vessel, including equipment, totals EUR 65 million. DFFU is a fully owned subsidiary of Alda Seafood.

Among the attendees at Friday's ceremony were Mr. Uwe Santjer, the mayor of Cuxhaven; Mrs. Swantje Nilsson from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL); and Dr. Margareta Büning-Fesel, President of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), all of whom delivered speeches.

Baldvin Thorsteinsson, director at DFFU and Chairman of Alda Seafood, also addressed the gathering, emphasising that the investment in the vessel is significant not only for DFFU and its employees but also for the entire region and the German fisheries industry.

"At DFFU, we believe this new vessel is fundamental to the competitiveness of our company and German fisheries in general. We are competing for the most demanding clients in the global seafood industry. Furthermore, we are competing against other protein suppliers, such as fish farming, chicken, and meat producers. This challenging environment means we must be at the forefront of technological advancement in our industry to remain competitive, and I believe this new vessel represents our commitment to that goal," said Thorsteinsson.

Thorsteinsson emphasised the importance of continuing DFFU’s growth in Cuxhaven. "Alda Seafood and previously, Samherji, have owned DFFU since 1995. During this time, we have committed to building the company here in Cuxhaven. We are mindful of the company’s history as one of the oldest fishing companies in Germany. DFFU is deeply rooted in the Cuxhaven community and currently employs several individuals who have worked for the company for decades. Our local suppliers have played a key role over the years, and I would like to say that here in Cuxhaven, we truly feel at home."

The Berlin NC 107 features advanced technical solutions and is more energy-efficient than older ships. Production-wise, a key improvement is its enhanced shrimp-catching and processing capabilities, expanding the variety of products produced onboard. The production of whitefish has also been upgraded with new equipment, increasing production options and broadening DFFU’s product range. The total investment in the ship, including equipment, amounts to EUR 65 million.

DFFU's Managing Director Samuel Rodriguez also gave a speech in which he highlighted the fact that DFFU was now celebrating its second vessel christening in just six years, which reflected the shareholder’s commitment to investing the company’s profits into the growth of the business.

"After 2018, we are now celebrating the second christening ceremony in just six years in Cuxhaven. With the new buildings Berlin NC 107 and Cuxhaven NC 100, the DFFU has invested well over 100 million euros in Cuxhaven during this period. The company's profits did not flow away but were reinvested in the company by the shareholders," said Rodriguez.

Furthermore, Rodriguez highlighted the vessel's advanced onboard technology by citing recent coverage about the vessel by the local press in Cuxhaven. "As Tim Fischer from the Cuxhavener Nachrichten recently aptly noted: Anyone who looks at the ship from the outside has no idea what technical marvel is hidden inside. The processing on board is state-of-the-art, sustainable and efficient and is unrivalled in the fishing industry," said Rodriguez.

In a time-honoured tradition, Dr. Margareta Büning-Fesel, President of the German Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), formally christened the vessel by shattering a bottle of champagne against its hull, thereby becoming its godmother. This symbolic gesture, steeped in maritime history, signifies wishes for prosperity and safe voyages for the ship and its crew. Following the ceremony, guests were treated to a reception and dinner hosted by DFFU to commemorate the occasion.

More images from the naming ceremony can be found in the gallery below.

See more information about the Berlin NC 107 here.

The accompanying video shows the vessel at sea and describes its technical capabilities in a nutshell.