Preparing a newbuild for sea is a collective effort

The Berlin NC 107 is a high-tech factory trawler and the latest addition to the fleet of Deutsche Fischfang Union GmbH (DFFU), our subsidiary in Germany. The vessel was built by VARD in Norway. Following a two-year design and building process, DFFU took delivery of the vessel at VARD’s site in Brattvåg, Norway, on 27 February.

Seavar Berg Hannesson is the factory manager onboard the Berlin NC 107. His involvement in the vessel's design and building process began as soon as the building contract with VARD was signed.

“I consider myself lucky to have been part of this project. I was part of a team responsible for designing the processing deck, and I believe the strategy we implemented was successful. One of the most significant changes we have seen in fisheries in recent years is the full utilisation of raw materials onboard, ensuring nothing goes to waste. Our processing line enables us to store all the skin and pack it frozen. We also have a mincing machine from Sepamatic that separates all the bone from the bone columns and heads, allowing us to fully utilise the extra meat that would have been discarded at sea in the past. This mince is then either packaged or pumped to ensilage tanks, and the customer pays for the protein content, as is done with fishmeal,” says Hannesson.

Hannesson is an experienced fisherman, having been at sea for 27 years. "So much has changed during this period in terms of new technology and product development. Back then, it would have been difficult to believe there could be so much progress, let alone being able to experience it firsthand”. He also mentions the accommodations onboard the Berlin NC 107. “All living quarters are bright and spacious. The crew can spend their time off shifts using the gym, sauna, or hot tub," says Hannesson.

See the Berlin NC 107 in the video below, showing footage taken during the vessel’s first crewed trip after its delivery at the end of February.

 

Gustav Hammer is one of the two chief engineers onboard the Berlin NC 107. His involvement with the project began after the vessel arrived at VARD’s site in Brattvåg, Norway. “My role during the building process was mostly overseeing installation and testing of the off-middeck hardware,” says Hammer.

Hammer says the biggest innovation, from his standpoint, is that the vessel’s propulsion is a hybrid. “The vessel has a battery pack that relieves the main engine, which is to be used especially during rapid load changes, which saves both fuel and reduces wear and tear on the main engine. The battery pack is then charged with reverse power from electric winches on the tow and when the trawl is dropped. This, combined with the variable main engine speed, makes the vessel energy efficient under different conditions,” says Hammer.

The main engine, by Bergen Engines AS, delivers 5400 kW, paired with a 2500 kW shaft generator. The vessel has an auxiliary engine from Caterpillar which delivers 1785 kW. The main engine optimises fuel usage through adjustable RPM (revolutions per minute) and VVT (variable valve timing), enhancing fuel efficiency across various loads. This approach is built on an existing concept and has been used on previous DFFU vessels, such as the Cuxhaven NC 100 and the Berlin NC 105, which were built by the Myklebust shipyard in Norway and delivered in 2017. The Berlin NC 105 was later sold. 

Hordur Masson, the other chief engineer aboard the Berlin NC 107, travelled to Bergen, Norway in December 2022 to conduct tests on the main engine for the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT). From August to September 2023, he was directly involved in the building process, operating from an office at VARD’s site in Brattvåg.

Like Hammer, Masson highlights the electrical system onboard and its energy efficiency as the most significant changes compared to older vessels. He mentions that the engineers on the Berlin NC 107 have benefited from technological innovations used on the Cuxhaven NC 100 and the Berlin NC 105.

“We were fortunate to have already learned a lot about the new technology with the arrival of the Myklebust vessels, both in terms of machinery and processing equipment. But what is at the top of my mind regarding advancements this time is the electrical system for the Berlin NC 107, how it operates, and how the ship utilises energy. On the vessels manufactured by Myklebust, we had a similar system and good energy efficiency compared to older vessels. But this time, on the Berlin NC 107, we go all the way in energy efficiency,” says Masson.

Like Hammer, Masson cites the additional power generated from the electric motors on the winches which is channelled into the system and stored in a battery pack, reducing oil consumption.

“Similar to previous newbuilds, we have variable drive modes where engine and generator rotation is adjusted proportionally to the engine load. This optimisation leads to better fuel utilisation. The ship's comprehensive warning and control system oversees all machinery outside the working deck, promptly notifying any deviations beyond preset limits,” says Masson.

You can find more information about the Berlin NC 107 here.

See video taken during the vessel’s first crewed voyage above or here.

In the gallery below, you can view more images of the vessel, its onboard equipment, and accommodation.