Q Partnership welcomes new Rammi freezer trawler

The directors of The Q Partnership companies were among a host of industry representatives to welcome the new state-of-the-art Solberg freezer trawler as it arrived in Siglufjordur, Iceland, earlier this month following its maiden voyage from a shipyard in Turkey.

Operated by the Icelandic fishing company Rammi, which has been catching and supplying cod and haddock to Henry Colbeck, Friars Pride and VA Whitley for over 15 years, the Solberg replaces the company’s two existing freezer trawlers. It will start to supply skinless and boneless cod and haddock fillets under the Rammi oCean Reserve and oCean Premium brands in 2x10kg packs this summer.

Built to the highest standards using first class materials and craftmanship, the Solberg measures 80m long by 15.4m wide, with a height of 30.3 metres. It comprises five levels including the bridge, which is fitted out with the highest standards of technical equipment, as well as living quarters for the 34 crew members who will be at sea for 30 days per trip with facilities including a dining room, TV room, and gym.

The factory deck, meanwhile, includes some of the most advanced filleting, cutting, freezing and packing equipment designed to supply fillets to the highest possible standards, as well as a cold-store which has a capacity for 900 tonnes of packed product.

The maiden voyage of the Solberg, which means Sun Mountain, back to Iceland took over two weeks travelling through the Mediterranean Sea, past Gibraltar, up through the Atlantic Ocean finally arriving at its home port of Siglufjordur on the north coast of Iceland.  

Michael Shone of Henry Colbeck, Rebecca Lord of Friars Pride and Chris Rogers and Mike Wallace of VA Whitley all traveled the 1,500 mile journey to attend the naming ceremony. They were joined by local residents from the towns of Siglufjordur and Olafsfjordur who turned out in their hundreds to witness the ceremony and take the opportunity to go onboard and see first-hand what an incredible ship has been built.

Speeches from Rammi’s managing director, Olafur Marteinsson, and the Iceland Minister of Fisheries, Thorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, reinforced the occasion.