New Vilhelm vessel successfully launched
A new vessel ordered by Samherji, Vilhelm Thorsteinsson EA, was successfully launched at the Karstensens shipyard in Gdynia, Poland, on June 12th. The ship was ready for launch eight weeks ago, but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was not possible until now.
The vessel will replace the current Vilhelm Thorsteinsson EA 11, which arrived new in Iceland two decades ago. The new vessel's carrying capacity will be about 3,000 tonnes of chilled products.
"This vessel is a new construction we have been waiting for with anticipation. Agreements for the construction were signed on September 4th, 2018, but on that day the twins Baldvin and Vilhelm Thorsteinsson would have turned 90 years old. The ship's equipment will be exceptionally good, both in terms of the fishing itself and the handling of the catch, but also in terms of work facilities and crew accommodation," says Mr Kristján Vilhelmsson, managing director of ships operations at Samherji.
In order to launch the vessel, wheels are placed under the hull and then it is "driven" out onto a large floating barge, which is then pulled from the dock to a sufficient depth. Sea is then pumped into the barge's tanks so that it is submerged enough for the ship to float. It is then pulled back to the dock at the shipyard.
At the beginning of last week, after the launch, the ship's two main engines, the wheelhouse superstructure and the radar mast were installed on the vessel. A few days of instalments and other technical work on the ship is still left in Gdynia, but then it will be towed to Skagen in Denmark where the construction will be completed. The vessel is expected to be ready well before Christmas.
Employees of Karstensens shot the video of the launch of Vilhelm Thorsteinsson EA. Link to the video: The launch of Vilhelm Thorsteinsson EA.
The trawler, like his predecessor, is named after captain Vilhelm Thorsteinsson, seen here in is his younger years aboard the vessel Hardbakur.
Þorsteinn Már Baldvinsson and Kristján Vilhelmsson sign the Building Contract on September 4th 2018
Vilhelm Thorsteinsson moved out onto the floating barge
Vilhelm Thorsteinsson on the floating barge
Vilhelm Thorsteinsson on the floating barge on its way out of the harbour
Vilhelm Thorsteinsson afloat!
Vilhelm Thorsteinsson EA on the way back to the pier
Vilhelm Thorsteinsson EA on the way back to the pier
The wheelhouse installed on the vessel
The wheelhouse installed on the vessel
Vilhelm Thorsteinsson EA with the wheelhouse and radar mast installed
